Centre to rope in NGOs afresh for social schemes

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 5

In a tactical change in its strategy, the Modi government has now decided to rope in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) afresh for implementing social sector schemes.

The move has come after a recent Ministry of Home Affair’s (MHA) clampdown on over 11,000 NGOs by cancelling their registration under the Foreign Currency Regulation Act (FCRA) citing different reasons. However, the affected organisations have gone to courts challenging the government decisions.

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The change in the government’s stance became visible this week when the NITI Aayog, the Centre’s apex think tank, held an interactive session for NGOs with ministries dealing with subjects relating to social sectors.

In a statement, the NITI Aayog said, “Recognising the important role played by civil society organisations (CSOs) in effective implementation of government policies/schemes, an interactive session with leading CSOs and key ministries was held, where 17 leading voluntary organisations and secretaries of 15 ministries/departments deliberated on ways and means to take forward the social sector initiatives of the government.”

Highlighting the crucial role such organisations play in ensuring inclusive growth and development down to the last mile, NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman, Dr Arvind Panagariya is learnt to have said: “An effective partnership between the government and the CSOs will go a long way in efficient utilisation of government resources, especially in the social sector.”