NGOs and sustainable development

 Non-governmental Organisations: A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) is a legally constituted organisation created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government and a term usually used by governments to refer to entities that have no government status. In the cases in which NGOs are funded totally or partially by governments, the NGO maintains its non-governmental status by excluding government representatives from membership in the organisation. The term is usually applied only to organisations that pursue some wider social aim that has political aspects, but that are not overtly political organisations such as political parties. Unlike the term “inter-governmental organisation”, the term “non-governmental organisation” has no generally agreed legal definition. In many jurisdictions, these types of organisation are called “civil society organisations” or referred to by other names.

The primary purpose of an operational NGO is the design and implementation of development-related projects. One frequently used categorisation is the division into relief-oriented versus development-oriented organisations; they can also be classified according to whether they stress service delivery or participation; or whether they are religious or secular; and whether they are more public or private-oriented. Operational NGOs can be community-based, national or international.

The primary purpose of an Advocacy NGO is to defend or promote a specific cause. As opposed to operational project management, these organisations typically try to raise awareness, acceptance and knowledge by lobbying, press work and activist events.

USAID refers to NGOs as private voluntary organisations. However, many scholars have argued that this definition is highly problematic as many NGOs are in fact state and corporate funded and managed projects with professional staff.

NGOs exist for a variety of reasons, usually to further the political or social goals of their members or funders. Examples include improving the state of the natural environment, encouraging the observance of human rights, improving the welfare of the disadvantaged, or representing a corporate agenda. However, there are a huge number of such organisations and their goals cover a broad range of political and philosophical positions. This can also easily be applied to private schools and athletic organisations.

The number of internationally operating NGOs is estimated at 40,000. National numbers are even higher: Russia has 277,000 NGOs. India is estimated to have between 1 million and 2 million NGOs.

The Sarvodaya Shramdana Movement (SSM) of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) are the two biggest biggest NGOs in Asia.

During the 19th century, voluntary work began in India with social reform movements. Later, Mahatma Gandhi strengthened the voluntary movements and inspired thousands of young women and men to work among those who were deprived of health, employment and income-generation and education, as well as among the scheduled castes and the rural poor. After independence, new kind of voluntary agencies emerged. At present, there are several thousand voluntary agencies in India covering a range of areas such as providing alternative services in education, health, relief and rehabilitation, employment avenues to youth, environmental issues like afforestation and so on. It is important to note that the Earth Summit stressed the active participation of the NGOs in the sustainable development process. 

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