H.H. Chimire! NCOIINCO Centered...

205

(SWC) and NGOs Federation are the NGOs' apex bod· .

Nepal. les In
. Any organization that is registered in any country as per
Its rules and regulations is known as international nOn-
NGO/INGO CENTERED APPROACH: governmental organization (INGO). According to the resolution
No. 288(x) p~ssed on February 27, 1950 by the Economic and
AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO
SOCIal Councli of the United Nations, those organizations not
DEVELOPMENT organIzed or mter-related through treaties are known as INGOs.
The artIcle I of the draft blil for international non-governmental
Harihar Ghimire' organIzatIon treaty of the Union of International Association has
po lilted out the following characteristics of the INGOs:
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a social a) Not having any objective of economic benefit
organization motivated to work in sectors like religion, socio- b) Recognized at least by one nation, '
cultural, economic, educational, environment, women, children, c) To be an international forum
etc, irrespective of any political ideology and belief. It is a non- . The members of the INGOs might c~nsist of individuals
profit social institution established formally after registering at or natIonal SOCIal organizations. The Prospectus/Constitution of
the Chief District Officer's office and affiliated with the Social the I . GOs at the tllne of registration becomes the major
Welfare Council (SWC) to work for the socially and gUldelme or dllectiv.e for work. The INGOs do not become the
economically backward people. In other words, apart from those sUbJe~t of IIlternatlOnal law nor do their prospectuses or
governmental institutions working collectively for any social constItutions be~ome formulated through international treaties.
works, other organizations and institutions registered formally But, these organizations become the subject of national law. The
and lawfully at the government offices and which get renewed INGOs can keep tangible and intangible assets and become the
every year in district administration office are known as NGOs. party In any Judiciary agencies. In some countries like Belgium,
These are voluntary, non-profitable, service oriented, and the speCial laws and acts govern the formal status while in
autonomous organizations. The objectives, thoughts and visions countnes like England and France simple laws and acts 00ve
of these organizations may vary as per the targeted areas and the formal status included in references (Ghimire, 200 I). TI~:
their areas of concern. World Bank defines NGOs as "a wide variety of groups and
In different countries various terms are used for GOs, mstltutlons that are entirely or largely independent of
such as private voluntary organizations in the United States, civil governments, and characterized primarily by humanitarian or
organizations in Latin America, voluntary development CooperatIve, rather than commercial objectives"
organizations in Africa and peoples' organizations in some parts .Globalization and development can be sustainable and
of Asia. The World Bank treats them as private or voluntary benefi.clal to the people only if it is growing below as a process
organizations. These different terminologies denote what is from InSide t~ outSIde, based On principles of cooperation and
referred to as NGOs in Nepal. The Social Welfare Council complementarliy, rather than imposed from outside and based on
the relatlonslllp of dominance and competition. Such an
Mr. Harihar Ghimire is an Sociologist and has been associated IIlclUSlve process of globalization will not juxtapose the macro
with the Department ofSociology/Amhropology, Patan Multiple WIth the micro, local With the national and the material with the
Campus, Patan T. U., in a Capacity of Assitam Lecturer. spJrltual.
206 Occasional Papers H. H. Chimirel NCOIINCO Centered... 207

Democracy, nevertheless, is only a necessary and not a c) Development by the people and for the people: the
sufficient condition for people focused development. Tills IS programs are not directly implemented from the top
because democracy, like the market, provides opportunity level. The local people are also involved in various
mainly to the socially strong and economically rich .. The weak processes of the programs. The local people develop
and the poor need to organize themselves for solldanty and their own plans rather than other agents deciding on
collective action for betterment of their own 0pp0I1ul1ltteS and their needs.
scope of action. This is where the NGOs/lNGOs can playa d) Mass mobilization and creating awareness: all plans and
catalyiic role (Acharya, 1997). Ih ., programs are based on the involvement of the total
Likewise, the expenence of the 20 century II1dtcates mass. This process of involving the masses is effective
that the state intervention cannot play positive and efficient role in getting the results as awareness programs are also
all over the nation. But, it could play positive and efficient role launched side by side.
only in certain spheres of development initiatives. In the state e) People as an active and responsible agent of
centered approach, the process of development goes like thIs - development: the local people get the feeling that they
macro policy making, rules and regulatIon, formatIon and have to be involved in their programs as they are the
promotion of necessary social and physical infrastructure are the ones to get the maximum benefit out of it. Hence, they
most appropriate spheres for state II1terventton. But, modern feel more responsible and act as an active actor of
states, with a vast and rigid bureaucracy, are hardly capable of development.
micro-policy reforms and power sharing. Further, states are f) Income generation and empowerment: various income
often captured by the powerful and the wealthy and should generating and empowerment programs are launched
maintain a political balance among various .interest groups. through GOs/INGOs. All the people are involved in
Likewise, the market-centered approach proVides opportul1lty some development activities so that they can perform
mainly to socially strong and economically rich. Therefore, sustainable economic activities. For this to be effective,
decision-making must be shifted from the state and the market to empowerment programs have to be meaningful and
the people. powerful tools for development. The local people are
People's participation and empowerment of the people to involved in the income generating activities by forming
control their own destinies should be the primary obJecltve of groups and users' groups.
development. This is possible only in NGO/lNGO centered g) Lacks long time perspective and low area coverage: the
approach. This approach puts people at the center of the weak aspect of NGO/INGO programs is that they are
development efforts. usually for short term and cover only a small area. Most
Ghimire (200 I) has pointed out the following of the programs are stopped in the middle and all the
distinguished features ofNGOs/INGOs: investment in it becomes useless and less effective. It
a) Participatory planning: the local people are made to also does not help develop all areas of the country.
participate in the planning process . right from h) Welfare, basic human need and sustainability: the basic
formulating, to implementation and mOl1ltonng. It IS features or characteristics of NGOs/lNGOs is that they
thus pal1icipatory in nature. focus on human welfare and basic needs. They work as
b) Financial and technical assistance: they provide non profit organizations and thus can be said to be of
financial and technical assistance to the people. welfare motive. When the programs are handed over to
the community after a lot of guidance and trainings, the
208 Occasional Papers H.ff. Chi",!rel NCOIINCO Centered. . 209

programs seem to be sustainable and well functioned for drinking water. And these initiatives can be considered now
and people seem to take the responsibility of sustaining as NGOs in the Nepalese context.
the programs as they are the ones who get the maximum "Shree Chandra Kamadhenu Charkha Pracharak
benefit. Mahaguthi" is considered as the first NGO to be formally
i) Priorities in rural area, remote area, poor, disabled and established in Nepal with the objective of social work. It was
women: another distinguishing feature ofNGOs/INGOs established in 1983 B.S. Similarly, the "Charkha Pracharak
is that they work for the poor and people living in Sanstha" established in 1985 B.S by Tulshi Mehar Shrestha can
remote and rural areas and who are unable to improve also be regarded as an NGO. In 2004 B.S, social worker Dayabir
their living standard. Disabled and people who are Singh Kansakar had established a "Paropakar Aushadhalaya
looked down upon by the society and government are (Now known as Paropakar Sanshtha) regarded as an NGO, to
the focus ofNGOs/INGOs. help the physically incapacitated people. It was only after the
Government attempts at social mobilization in many political turnover during 2007B.S. that the NGOs were
developing countries attempted during the 1980s have mostly established in a formal and organized manner. In this regard, the
been a failure because they are top-down, service delivery first elected government in 2016 B.S adopted Association
oriented and often elite dominated. Cooperatives are an excellent Registration Act 2016. This Act has profound importance in the
example in this context. Further, such groups are not sustainable history of the NGOs. But, while the people were still to know
because they are organized in the first place for efficient delivery about the NGOs, and as the foundation of democratic
of services and not for self-help and self-development of the government was in the process of setting up, Late King
people. Capacity and efficiency in social mobilization is the Mahendra adopted the Panchayat system on Poush I, 2017 B.S
greatest advantage the NGOs have. Many governments and by restricting establishment of political parties and
donors are looking at the NGOs as a "means of getting benefits organizations/institutions. Then the status of the non-
more directly and cheaply to the poor than governments have governmental organizations became weak. Still, during the time
been able to accomplish on their own" (Korten, 1987). of Panchayat system social organizations like Paropakar, Red
INGOslNGOs have been able to start from a small scale Cross, Nepal Jaycees etc were established. Likewise, the
and expanding the scope of their activities slowly. NGOs/INGOs tradition of nominating the Royal Family members as the
put people at the centre of the development discourse. Specially, Chairperson of such organizations started (Ghimire, 2001)
they focus on poor, deprived women, children, marginalized From 2041/42 B.S, there has been a constant increase in
groups etc. and their neat sectors are agriculture, health, the number of NGOs. There were 106 registered NGOs in the
education, environment etc. Kingdom of Nepal in 2041/42 B.S. and it increased to 191
before the establishment of democracy in 2046 B.S. In a real
NGOs in Nepal sense, the establishment or registration of NGOs increased
The concept ofNGOs is not new to the Nepalese people. rapidly after the political change of 2046 B.S. In 2049 B.S.
Ancient social institutions like Guthi, Dhikuti, Parma, Social Welfare Act was adopted. Then the SWC was established
Dharmabhakari, Murdaguthi, Pujaguthi, Pati, Pauwa, Kuwa to monitor and coordinate and evaluate the works of national and
Rotating credit associations or self-help banks were run by international non governmental organizations. SWC keeps the
different communities. Pati, Pauwa- a cottage was built by the updated records, helps and provides suggestions to the
local community with trees planted for shade which provided government regarding the plans and policies relating to the
rest for tired travellers. Kuwa- wells were dug by the community NGO/INGOs.
210 Occasional Papers H.H. Chimire/ NCO/INCO Centered... 211

There is no doubt that the NGOs are the actors of Ashad 2056 B.S. Likewise, the statistics shows II 036 NGOs
development. Therefore, NGOs have been recognized as affiliated with the Council by the year 2057 B.S. TI;e Council's
important avenues for development promotion and for the first 2058 B.S. record shows 12,388 GOs registered. If we look at
time in Nepal, the Eighth Five Year Plan (2049-2054 B.s) the developmental practices in Nepal, we see that the national
emphasized the importance of NGOs in enhancing production and international non governmental organizations have played a
activity and socio-economic development. The current Five Year vital and key role. These organizations seem to be helping
Plan (2054-2059 B.S) also has continued and recognized the (being the partner in development activities) the government in
important role of GOs in development. development efforts as they are working and focusing in areas
In the early 1990s, new policies were formulated which like the least developed regions, ethnic minorities, downtrodden
have made registration of GOs much easier than in the past. As women, children, etc. But, GOs/lNGOs cover only selected
a result, the GO sector is growing fast. There are three Acts areas and sectors, it is unable to develop equally in all areas and
which govern NGO/lNGO activities in general. First, the sectors of epal. There seems to be the prevailing trend of
Constitution of the Kingdom of epal 1990 ensures the right to stopping or leaving the programs in the middle of
open associations by all citizens. Second, the Social Welfare Act implementation and the practice of earning without work. Also,
(1992) has established the SWC under the chairmanship of the we find the lack of coordination between the govel'l1ment and the
Minister or Minister of State of Social Welfare which is to Social Welfare Council and between the national and the
coordinate, facilitate, promote and mobilize NGOs for social international Non-governmental Organizations.
welfare activities.
After the amendment of the Association Registration Kinds of NGOs in Nepal
Act (1977), the new law provided for registration of NGOs, at From a developmental perspective with the analysis of
all the COO offices with minimum of restrictions. Any group of various NGOs, there are mainly national welfare oriented NGOs,
seven Nepali citizens may apply for registration specifying the professional NGOs and district! village based NGOs.
name, address, and objectives of the organization. The NGOs are I) National welfare oriented NGOs
required to present audited accounts each year for the Some wei fare oriented NGOs operate on a national scale
registration renewal of the organization. and have long histories. Nepal Red Cross Society, Family
Third, DOC and VDC Act (1992) tries to regulate Planning Association of Nepal, Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, Nepal
DDCIVDC in coordinating the NGO/INGO activities in their Anti T.B. Association are some examples of the welfare oriented
respective areas to provide grants to NGOs and to enter into NGOs in Nepal. They have developed strong institutional
agreements with them for conducting programs and projects. structures, for example, equipped hospitals and clinics. Such
VDCs are authorized to demand plans and programs from NGOs NGOs have local offices and programs in many parts of the
operating in their areas. GOs are required to receive clearance country. Even though their annual expenditure is around a
for their projects from VDCs and through them, from DOCs. million dollars they miss long term visions.
They are also required to work in close collaboration with the
DOCs. Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS)
Presently, it is estimated that there are around 25 Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) was established in
thousand NGOs working in the Kingdom of Nepal. But, 1963. It has a chapter in all the 75 districts of the nation. It is
according to the record of the SWC, there were 7,389 NGOs supported by more than 500 sub chapters and coordination
registered till 2055/3/23. This number increased to 8,880 by committees and more than 432 thousand members (as of 1995
212 Occasional Papers H.H. Chimirel NCOIINCO Centered... 213

AD). Program areas include community development including been operating for more than four decades. Strategies of
water and sanitation programs and community based first-aid NGOs/lNGOs of local intervention are similar. But, INGOs also
programs: health services including blood transformation, health function as donors to NGOs. Priority of funding and input
education, health service, family planning, ARI and AMS components depend upon the objectives of each INGO and its
programs; disaster management including prevention, leadership's vision, group awareness raising, group formation
mitigation, preparedness, and rescue and relief activities. and credit are to all programs.
Most of the INGOs working as direct implementers has
Family Planning Association of Nepal (FPA ) a fairly large number of staff and a complex organizational
FPAN was established in 1959 A.D. It has grown to structure. CARE-Nepal works mostly as direct implementer of
cover 27 districts. Its objectives include promotion of family programs. UMN also implements programs by itself. It has a
planning as basic human right, empowering both men and fairly large working network at community, district and central
women to make voluntary and informed choices and to support levels. Even though, Lutheran World Service (LWS) has a large
government family planning programs. Its activities are focused establishment with more than 350 employees in its six project
on family planning education, training, family planning areas, it works in coordination with local partners in each of its
promotion and services; mothers and child health services; and project areas. LWS partners include national level NGOs like the
community development activities. Red Cross, the UN agency like UNHCR and grassroots
2) Professional NGOs development institutions.
These kinds of NGOs are generally staffed with highly In Nepal, lNGOs have been working for the last four
qualified personnel. Most of the professional NGOs are involved decades. The INGOs like UMN and Helvetas Nepal have been
in research and action programs. Institute of Integrated working for the development activities. According to the Social
Development System (liDS), Rural self-reliance Development Welfare Council, there were 82 INGOs in the year 2056/57 B.S.
Centre (RSDC), Nirdhan, etc. are some examples of professional working in Nepal. This number reached 103 in the fiscal year
NGOs. Usually, an executive director is hired for day to day 2057/58. The amount spent in various programs by these INGOs
management of the organization. in 2057/58 was Rs. 1.45 billion. In 2058/59 the amount reached
3) District!Village based NGOs Rs. 2.4 billion.
These kinds of NGOs have often evolved out of the
effort of a single charismatic leader. The leader is usually
Weaknesses
involved in various activities of the organization including fund No principles, assumptions, and concepts can remain
raising, planning, coordinating as well as implementing. Their away from limitations and criticisms. The NGOIINGO approach
plan depends upon the availability of donation. Thus, long term to development also has certain limitations of its own though it
visions are often missing and they often have to be guided by the seems working perfectly in the twenty-first century for the
interests of the donors. Social and health and environmental downtrodden and poor people. It also seems to be working hand
institutions are the examples of district! village based NGOs. in hand with the international governments to bring positive and
constructive results. Still, this approach has following limitations
INGOs in Nepal and criticisms:
I GOs have been recognized as important avenue for I) Lack of sustainability:
development promotion. A large number of I GOs operate in As programs rely upon international donors and
Nepal. The United Mission to Nepal (UM ) and Helvetas have technical supporters, such programs have to be stopped when the
214 Occasional Papers H. H. Chimirel NCOIINCO Centered .. 215

donors stop the fund or technical help. It does not in any case There is a lack of coordination between the government
help sustainable development. and the SWC and between the INGOs and NGOs. It creates
2) Covers limited sectors only or less coverage: misunderstandings and duplication of work within such
The NGOs cover only the limited selected areas and organizations. The govel'l1ment seems to be losing even the legal
sectors as per their objectives and convenience. They do not help control and monitoring of the NGOs and INGOs. The SWC
in equal development and in up-lifting the socio-economic which has the responsibility of guiding the NGOs/lNGOs in
conditions of all the people of a country. right track is unable to do so due to lack of infrastructure and
3) Lack of local people's actual need in the programs: other capabilities.
Almost all the programs give priority and emphasis to 9) Lack of monitoring:
the interests of the donors rather than giving priority to the There is no mechanism to evaluate, supervise and guide
actual felt needs of the targeted people. It does not in the long the GO/fNGOs working throughout the country. Hence, some
run help solve the problems of the needy people. organizations seem to be gaining a national status without
4) Lacks social welfare motive: performing designated and set goals. This trend does not help
Though the NGOs promise to work with the social motivate hard working organizations as they always remain in
welfare motive, most of them operate with the objective of shadow.
making profit. This will not help in reaching the objectives as
targeted. 10) Differences in Setting of priorities:
5) Lack of execution of set goals: Some of the fNGOs seem to be glvlllg pnonty and
The records of all the GOs remain in the COO office attention to the interests of their own country rather than
and in the SWCI, but there is a lack of a mechanism to monitor focusing on the interests of the local people.
and evaluate the works done by those organizations. Only some I J) Change (modification) in local culture and technology:
NGOs are practically in existence and working as per their The local problems may not be solved as INGOs
objectives. This trend will certainly not lead to positive changes introduce and implement technologies not suitable to the
in the society. necessities of the local people. It lacks the appl ication of suitable
6) Political affiliation (affiliation to certain political technologies in the existing socio cultural and geographical
parties): environments and conditions. The local culture tradition
Many NGOs in the country seem to be directly affiliated practices and technologies also either change or' modify 0;
to one particular party. They follow the political directives given become extinct.
to them by their leaders and work for the interests of such 12) High expenditure in remuneration of foreign experts:
parties. Many NGOs have been opened by a direct link with The INGOs employ foreign citizens as local consultants.
international traders and they are mobilized to preach on This leads to allocating most of the financial resources to the
religion. foreign employees which should have been allocated to the
7) Lack of special provision to establish a NGO: development projects. The foreign employees may not be
As any person can establ ish NGOs, and there is no familiar with the local problems and the appropriate method of
provision or process of sustaining the established NGOs, there solutions.
remains a trend of dismissing them at any time they like. 13) Not able to reach the targeted people:
8) Lack of coordination: With some exceptions, most of the INGOs have not
been able to reach down to the real and actual targeted groups
216 Occasional Papers H.H. Chimirel NCOIINCO Centered .. 217

and poor people who are in need of help. They are unable to CEDA. Role of NGOs in National Development, Seminar Report,
mobilize the resources properly. 1992.
14) Lack of accountability: Chambers, Roberts, Whose Reality Counts, Bath, United Kingdom
The INGOs and NGOs are not accountable to any International Technology Publication, Bathpress, 1992.
agencies in practice. They ought to be accountable to the Chand, Diwakar. Development Through Non-government
Organization in Nepal. India Institute for Social Development
working groups while doing work and accountable to the SWC
Research and Social Services, 1991.
too.
Chetri, Ram, B. Rotating Credit Association in Nepal: Dhikuri as
15) Lack of transparency: Capital, Credit, Saving and Investment. pp. 449-454. Human
Regarding the funds and financial mechanisms, Organization, Volume 54, November 4, 1995.
INGOslNGOs are not transparent. Many INGOs have denied Franz, Telmo Rudi. The Role of NGOs in strengthening of Civil
giving their statements of annual income and expenditures to the Society in World Development, Volume 15, Supplement, pp.
SWC. 39-49,1987.
Ghimire, H.H., Nepalma Vikas Ka Prayasharu (Developmental
Conclusion Practices in Nepal) Sajha Prakashan, Kathmandu, 200 I.
The NGOs/INGOs are non-profitable institutions. NGOs Himal South Asia (Himalayan Magazine), Published Monthly by
Himal Association, Lalitpur, Nepal.
mostly focus on sectors like: agricultural expansion, irrigation,
Korten, David. Third Generation NGO Strategies: A Key to People
forestry, drinking water, basic and primary education, primary
Centered Development, PP. 145-159, in World Development,
health care etc while I GOs focus on awareness raising, group Vol. 15, Supplement, 1987.
formation and credit, area development, health and humanitarian Ministry of Law and lustice: GO Act (with post Ammendments)
assistance etc KathmandU, Ministry of Law and lustice, 1977.
There is no doubt that NGOs/l GOs playa pivotal role National Planning Commission. The Ninth Five Year Plan,
in nation building, but, due to the lack of sustainability and Kathmandu, National Planning Commission, 1998.
accountability the beneficial and effective results have not Occassional Papers (Series of Issues) Published by CDOSA (Kirtipur),
materialised. Channel of their funding and financing DOSA (Patan Multiple Campus), APROSE, ICIMOD, etc.
mechanisms are not transparent. For solving this problem the Rhian, Hill and Tamang Deepak. NGO's in Nepal: Change and
Challenge, Kathmandu, SEARCH, 1990.
government should be able to monitor, guide and facilitate their
activities to empower the people.

REFERENCES
Acharya, M. Non-government Organization (NGOs)- Led
Development in Nepal, pp. 69-99, Occasional Papers in
Sociology and Anthropology, Published by Central
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Kirtipur, 1997.
Bhattachan and Mishra (Editors): Developmental Practices in Nepal,
Published by Central Department of Sociology and
Anthropology, Kirtipur, 1997.
Bongartz, Heinz and Dahal, D.R. Development Studies, Self Helf
Organization. NGOs and Civil Society, NEFAS and FES,
1996.