Can Third Sector Contribute to The Attainment of Millennium Development Goals?

A SWOT Analysis of Indian NGOs

Dr. M. Indira *

In recent times Civil Society has been conceptualized as a separate ‘sector’ which is different from the State and the Market. Several actors like Non governmental organizations, community based organizations, social movements and charitable trusts are included under the umbrella of third sector. Existing literature on the relationship between State and Civil society has been classified into two streams by Tandon and Mohanti. In the first stream civil society counterpoises against state policy and in the process it will either replace or reform it and in the other stream civil society plays the role of watchdogs in a democracy. But there is also Walzerian stream that conceptualizes civil society as non-coerced institutions working without the interference of the state. In the present paper third sector has been identified with the Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) only. 

Though NGOs existed in India much before independence, Government’s recognition and decision to involve them in its efforts towards development started only with 7th five year plan (1985-90).  Development NGOs were asked to supplement Government’s micro level poverty alleviation and basic needs programmes. A separate sub-section on “ Involvement of Voluntary Agencies” was included in the 7th Plan document under the chapter on Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation Programmes and Rs. 10 to 15 Million was earmarked for use in active collaboration with NGOs (Planning Commission, 1985). To assist and channel the funds for this new involvement of NGOs, the Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART) was established in 1986. By 1990s the winds of globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation started blowing. It brought a paradigm shift in the development strategy. Under the new market-led and export oriented growth strategy the role envisaged for NGOs also underwent a change. Government is looking up to NGOs to provide “delivery services” i.e. implement local development programmes rather than supplement Government programmes in their areas of operation (Planning Commission, 1994).
Some of the researchers (Dogra, 1990; Seabrook, 1993; Tandon, 1996) voiced concerns about the new role of the NGOs and the impact of increased funding and expansion of NGOs. Tandon (1991) observed that the ideal relationship between NGOs and Government is rarely seen.
As  Rajasekhar (2000) observed NGOs randomly co-operate and liaise with one another and they view each other as competitors for donor funding. However there are studies that have shown that the NGO implemented watersheds are better in terms of delivery of services and sustainability.
In this context the present paper makes an attempt to apply SWOT analysis method to understand the role of NGOs in attaining one of the Millennium Goals of Universal Primary Education by 2015.
In order to attain this goal Government of India has launched Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) under the Department of Elementary Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resources Development. The important objective of this programme is Universalisation of Elementary Education in India. The other objectives of this programme are

NGOs are involved in implementation and monitoring of this programme. According to the guidelines of the programme “SSA conceives a vibrant partnership with Non Governmental Organisations in the area of capacity building, both in communities and resource institutions”. The partnership is conceived in three ways.

SWOT analysis of the NGOs involved in the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Programme in tribal districts of Karnataka has been attempted in this paper. Since this is an ongoing programme of Government of India, SWOT analysis of this nature will help in understanding the appropriateness of the present strategy adopted by Government of India.

UP