Do NGOs Really Positively Impact On Soc
Do NGOs impact positively on society? The case of Indian NGOS.
Do NGOs impact positively on society? The case of Indian NGOs.
In the last decades “NGOs have become the main service providers in countries where the government is unable to fulfil its traditional role” (Ulleber, 2009:8) and therefor, their influence on modern society has increased noticeably.
NGOs’ work, which aim is to promote and sustain the social and economic development in the underdeveloped and poor areas of the World, depends on a number of changeable factors such as availability of funds, which depends on donors, and the social needs of the local communities, which, considering the dramatic living conditions of the areas where NGOs operate, are extremely changeable.
In the past years, the work of NGOs has been highly debated. Although NGOs have deeply engaged with their causes and activities, many studies “have questioned the claims about effectiveness of NGO intervention in local communities” (Johnson-Lans, 2008:1). In their study about NGOs’ accountability and performance, Edwards and Hume state that “there is an increasing evidence that NGOs do not perform as effectively as had been assumed in terms of poverty-reach, cost-effectiveness […] popular participation […]” (1995:6). The same critique had been developed by Farrington and Bebbington, who argued about the NGOs’ failure on delivering services directly to poor people (1993). Both assertions discredit the operation of NGOs and argue that the impact of their activities is not as positive as expected.
In my opinion, NGOs impact positively on society. They have gained and continue to gain more and more importance thanks to their achievements in improving the life conditions of poor local communities under various aspects, and their work is as effective as irreplaceable. As Latha and Prabhakar have stated: “NGOs are the ones who really intend to care the uncared sections and the people at the bottom of the social stratum”, and
Do NGOs impact positively on society? The case of Indian NGOs.
In the last decades “NGOs have become the main service providers in countries where the government is unable to fulfil its traditional role” (Ulleber, 2009:8) and therefor, their influence on modern society has increased noticeably.
NGOs’ work, which aim is to promote and sustain the social and economic development in the underdeveloped and poor areas of the World, depends on a number of changeable factors such as availability of funds, which depends on donors, and the social needs of the local communities, which, considering the dramatic living conditions of the areas where NGOs operate, are extremely changeable.
In the past years, the work of NGOs has been highly debated. Although NGOs have deeply engaged with their causes and activities, many studies “have questioned the claims about effectiveness of NGO intervention in local communities” (Johnson-Lans, 2008:1). In their study about NGOs’ accountability and performance, Edwards and Hume state that “there is an increasing evidence that NGOs do not perform as effectively as had been assumed in terms of poverty-reach, cost-effectiveness […] popular participation […]” (1995:6). The same critique had been developed by Farrington and Bebbington, who argued about the NGOs’ failure on delivering services directly to poor people (1993). Both assertions discredit the operation of NGOs and argue that the impact of their activities is not as positive as expected.
In my opinion, NGOs impact positively on society. They have gained and continue to gain more and more importance thanks to their achievements in improving the life conditions of poor local communities under various aspects, and their work is as effective as irreplaceable. As Latha and Prabhakar have stated: “NGOs are the ones who really intend to care the uncared sections and the people at the bottom of the social stratum”, and
Bibliography: Johnson-Lans S.,(2008) “Do NGOs Make a Difference: A Case Study of Rural Rajasthan”, Vassar College of Economics working paper, July 2008: 093 Kelly L., Kilby P Kilby P. (2011), “NGOs in India”, Oxon-New York: Routledge Latha K UN website: http://www.iiep.unesco.org/capacity-development/capacity-development-strategies/range-of-studies/role-impact-of-ngos.html (accessed on 19 August 2014) Zachariah M.(2003), “NGOs in India: A Cross-sectional Study by R