NGOs Should Have A ‘Self-Regulatory Mechanism’ Think Experts


07/22/2015

In a gathering arranged by Jeevanbimanagar of Bangalore, India, significant representatives were of the opinion that a self-regulatory method should be introduced.


Dailycsr.com – 18 July 2015 – According to the reports of DHNS, a meeting held between various significant people from the government and non-governmental sector, voted in unison for a “self-regulatory mechanism”. A “round-table conference” was held sometimes during last month in India, wherein a “near-agreement” on “self-regulatory mechanism” which will enable the valuation of the NGOs. The said mechanism will be a means of evaluating the “quality and quantity” of impact made by any NGOs on the communities.
 
 
The event was hosted by “Rotary Bangalore Jeevanbimanagar”, whereby the prevailing topic of discussion was the integration of ‘two worlds’, namely “Corporates and Communities”. The discussion also considered the Indian legal act of “Indian Companies Act” which exercises the “transforming effect” on the companies by introducing “Corporate Social Responsibility”. The event saw the participation of
“...corporate representatives, non-government organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders on one platform”.
 
The panel members consisted of Alliance University’s professor Leela Karkaria, Jeevanbimanagar’s president of Rotary Club, Mr. Ronnie Vincent, TTk Blood-Bank’s Shalini Gambhir from Rotary Bangalore, Kirti Vardhana from LabourNet, the regional director of “CRY”, Suma Ravi, and Philips India’s Sumathi rao. The NGOs who work on the line of various CSR activities, taking care of its multiple facets in order to contribute to the welfare of the community, came into the limelight of this discussion, wherein the head of CSR Brillio and the Global Marketing Head Abhishek Ranjan occupied the place of chairmen in this session. As per the reports of DHNS, the experts at the meeting:
“...suggested that there could be self-disclosures or self-certifications for the NGOs.”
 
Erin CSR Consortium’s “chief co-ordinator”, Sai Prakash is of the opinion that
“CSR ideally means a voluntary activity even though the government has made it mandatory with the Companies Act”.
 
Likewise, many representatives were approached. Interestingly, when they were asked about their views on the procedures as to how the selection of an NGO by a corporate takes place for helping in CSR activities, they all expressed different opinions on the same. DHNS informs that professor Leela said that choosing of an NGO for the said purpose was not dependent on any “set parameters”. It varies from company to company as per their goals. Furthermore, the company also needs to keep in mind its “area of work” and “its vision”, whereby some sort of guidelines can be chalked out or custom-made parameters can be set.
 
However, Ronnis Vincent thinks otherwise, he feels that government should also take initiative and participate more in “CSR activities”, for it is the need of the hour. Government bodies and NGOs should work side by side in full co-operation so that there can be enforcement of “regular monitoring”. On the concluding noted the DHNS writes:
“Rotary Jeevanbimanagar also donated funds to the TTK Blood Bank, New Thippasandra, where the event was held, for a stem cell registry on the eve of World Blood Donors Day.”