22 October 2024 : Daily Answer Writing
Q1) The distinct characteristics of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the government create a unique symbiosis in improving the governance and developmental process in the country. Discuss.
(250 Words/15 Marks)
ANS
CSOs can be defined to include all non-market and non-state organizations outside of the family in which people organize themselves to pursue shared interests in the public domain. CSOs include community-
based organizations and village associations, environmental groups, NGOs, etc. They help extend the agenda of development to areas where governments fail to go.
The distinct characteristics of CSOs and the government create a unique symbiosis in improving the governance and developmental process in the following ways:
- Wider coverage: CSOs tends to bridge gap and reach out to sections of people often left untouched by state projects. E.g., providing help to migrant workers in Covid-19 crisis.
- Ending Exploitation: Government’s efforts when complemented by CSOs help address critical issues affecting society through capacity augmentation of the social sector. E.g., in tackling human trafficking, child labour etc.
- Social development: CSOs improve effectiveness of government’s development policies through feedback and performance audit. E.g., Pratham’s ASER report to address disparities in education.
- Last-mile Development: CSOs’ work at grass-root level helps them reach remote communities where government reach is lacking. Their role is crucial in achieving SDGs of zero hunger and zero poverty.
- Voice of the voiceless: The marginalized sections of society are included through works of CSOs who often enjoy greater degree of public trust than officials. E.g., NGO Naz foundation role in decriminalization of homosexuality.
The positive complementary role of CSOs is beneficial to development. However, there is also need for effective and progressive regulation of CSOs due to following reasons:
- Credibility and accountability issue: CSOs lack accountability as there are no evaluation parameters or credit system to judge their credibility.
- Undermining Development: NGOs are accused of organising agitations and scuttling development projects, which cost India’s GDP 2-3% per year.
- Corrupt practices: There is no information regarding operations or source of funding of several NGOs in public domain, neither they come under RTI. Utilization of funds is also opaque with a large extent of ‘administrative expenses’, a possible conduit for money laundering and funding for Naxalites, arms trade etc.
- Foreign influences: Flow of foreign funds has become a source of international interventions in domestic matters as seen in the toolkit controversy during Red fort riots in 2020 during farmers’ protests. Foreign funding, if unchecked, can influence policy and political discourse and result in violence in India.
- Misgovernance: The working of CSOs in India is marked by poor governance practices. E.g., CBI has informed that less than 10 percent of registered NGOs filed their audited accounts
- Religious and cultural encroachment: CSOs have been found to be involved in pushing vested interests and promoting religious conversion. E.g., government barred ‘Compassion International’ from funding Indian NGOs over alleged religious conversions.
The CSOs in India have been regulated through FCRA and FEMA act. Besides this NITI Aayog acts as nodal agency for the purpose of registration and accreditation of CSOs. There is a need for rating system to acknowledge the work of CSO and suggestions by Vijay Kumar committee could be considered in this regard.
