(The Hindu) NGOs : The good, bad and the ugly

by Abhishek Baghele · Published April 29, 2015 · Updated April 30, 2015

22nd April 2015

NGOs : The good, bad and the ugly

Planning commission (erstwhile) had built the groundwork for this in the National Policy on Voluntary Sector, 2007 and had come up with a set of guidelines set forth in 11th & 12th FYPs for the sector.
Voluntary sector in India is diverse in purpose, nature & approach.
1. ) 1st move was to cut the idea of importing rankings because Indian Voluntary sector

a. ) neither single purposed like hotel sector

b. ) nor responsible to hierarchical gradation as military.

~ Experience of rating agencies across the world reveals that ratings are helpful, especially to donors, in reducing transaction cost while making investment decisions based on financial health.

2. ) Accreditation : It is a process of certifying voluntary organizations based on set of agreed and codified norms, principles, standards and practices

– Not used to its full potential.

– Still in self regulatory spirit.

~ In 2012, Consensus was reached to set up an autonomous accreditation authority – National Accreditation Council of India or NACI – but only documents prepared by CAPARTC (Council for Advancement & Rural Technology) govt. body, whose existence itself under scanner.

– NACI will need to be autonomous, equal representation of govt. & voluntary organisations develop a methodology in consultation with this sector & respect diversity.