Saraswati was a successful IT professional in USA. Moved by patriotic sense of doing something for the country she returned to India. Together with some other like-minded friends, she formed an NGO to build a school for a poor rural community. The objective of the school was to provide the best quality modern education at a nominal cost. She soon discovered that she has to seek permission from a number of Government agencies. The rules and procedures were quite confusing and cumbersome. What frustrated her most were delays, callous attitude of officials and constant demand for bribes. Her experience and the experience of many others like her have deterred people from taking up social service projects. A measure of Government control over voluntary social work is necessary. But it should not be exercised in a coercive and corrupt manner. What measures can you suggest to ensure that due control is exercised but well meaning, honest NGO efforts are not thwarted? (20 marks, 250 words) [GS-4: Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude Case Study]

Introduction:

Promotion of development initiatives aimed at educating underprivileged rural communities should be prioritized. Saraswati and her associates were resolute in utilizing the assistance of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to bring about positive transformation. It is imperative to nurture their enthusiasm by offering comprehensive and timely support.

Body:

• To ensure adherence to legal regulations and expedite the authorization process, the following measures can be undertaken:
  Streamlining the registration process for NGOs by transitioning it to an online platform, with the provision of an approximate one-month approval timeline, unless significant application deficiencies are identified, in which case the applicant will be duly informed within the specified period.
• The government retains the prerogative to set minimal benchmarks for educational institutions, encompassing aspects such as playgrounds, laboratories, teacher-student ratios, and other essential facilities.
• Institutions meeting these criteria could be granted expedited and time-bound approval, subject to the condition that the claims presented by the school administration are made accessible to the public.
• Schools might be required to upload images and pertinent details onto government websites to enable regulatory bodies to monitor adherence to the stipulated standards.
• Unannounced inspections should be carried out periodically to verify the proper functioning of schools, and stringent penalties might be imposed on promoters failing to meet the established standards.
• To facilitate the registration of NGOs and the accreditation of schools, the government could establish a helpline or an SMS-based grievance redressal mechanism, ensuring the rapid and effective resolution of all concerns by competent authorities.

Conclusion:

For effective development, collaborative efforts between the government and its officials are indispensable, working in tandem with NGOs to ensure the effective dissemination of policies and programs to underserved, remote, and impoverished areas.