Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) has played different varied roles. The diversity of activities performed by the NGOs makes the classification of NGOs complicated. They have played important role from developmental to diplomatic (Track II and Track III dialogue). NGOs have acted as transnational actors, developmental agencies, watchdogs (of rights and violations), and spear-headed social movements. The social reawakening brought about in British India was under the agies of what in the current vocabulary might be categorized as NGOs. Brahmo Samaj founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Servants of India society, Satyashodak Samaj, Aligarh movement, Deoband Movement, etc were social movements led by intelligentsia through organizations.
Post-independence period until the 1960’s saw a lull in social movements and issues of structural change and building a new India had become important national goals. However, the economic and political crisis of the 1960’s and 1970’s led to the rise of essential conditions to spur social movements. Thus various movements- Gandhian, Lohiate, People’s War Group (PWG), liberation theology etc came into being. Most of the dissent movements had leftist leanings except the Swatantra Party and Rashtriya Swayam-sevak Sangh (RSS). The movement of Total Revolution led by Jaya Parkash Narayanan finally toppled the Indira Gandhi government and paved way for the first non-Congress party rule.
In the 1970s several local people’s movements raised their voices against state oppression and the exclusion of dalits and tribal’s. Movements such as Chipko Andolan, Narmada Baacho Andolan demanded structural change. They aimed to bring into focus the environmental aspects as well deprivation suffered from developmental projects.
Another social movement of the 1960s and 1970s that has implication for developmental worries is the women’s movement. It has shifted the discourse from women in development to Gender and development. Most NGOs have a dedicated Gender desk for women issues.
The main ingredient of any social movement is awareness and awakening. This is brought about by the awakened intelligentsia who guide and herald the people. For people to organize themselves and assert their right or demand they have to be aware of how to do it. The European agitation against the Illbert Bill educated the Indians about how to fight for their cause. People often organize themselves under an organization to put forward their demands and advance their cause. Thus the role of NGOs in people movements has become important.
In some movements, NGOs have offered support and associated themselves with them. In others, the movement organizers have founded NGOs to take care of their logistical and legal needs.
Social movements require mass mobilization behind a specific cause. Post-independence the emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi provided impetus to activism among rights organization. This became the meeting ground for individuals and organizations which otherwise had serious differences. Human rights became an important issue and today most NGOs have a desk dedicated to it.
Some people’s movements have also become into NGOs. They have brought communities. The effort of the fisherman’s movement was aimed at protecting the rights of traditional fish workers of Kerala, whose livelihood was threatened by the introduction of mechanized craft. It turned self employed men to wage workers. The movement developed a large social support base, and was able to engage with the struggle against international interests that were pressurizing India to open its massive resources to the detriment of both the fishing communities and the mechanized industry. The movement spread to various belts and the National Fisherman’s Forum was founded. The forum is one of the first success stories of unionization in the unorganized sector.
Numerous NGOs have emerged out of peoples movements centered around dalits, tribal’s and women. They have mobilized in complex ways like the Jharkhand movement, Bhoomi Sena, Dalit Panthers, etc. Though initially promising but soon got bogged down by local issues. Dalit Panthers, a radical group, was founded in 1972, modeled itself after black groups in the US. They emphasized cultural assertion and self respect with a central role to Dalit literature. Today DAPPU, an Andhra based NGO is an umbrella organization for several groups. The National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR), Dalit women’s charter of rights and demands, and various other dalit organizations have renewed the debate on caste.
In India, peace issues have not been prominent in the development agenda of NGOs. The Movement in India for Nuclear Department (MIND) was formed in 1984. The Balliapal movement against missile Test firing Range, The Anti-Kalga Nuclear Plant Movement came into confrontation with the military industrial complex. The increasingly communal hatred has also led to movements against communalism and fundamentalism. Communalism combat, a publication that counters communal hatred has also led several campaigns. Post-pokran is witnessing a new anti-nuclear and peace movement.
The anti-corruption movement led by India Against Corruption has metamorphed and given birth to a political party Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). AAP has captured power in Delhi. The movement garnered large public support and was based on an issue affecting every common man in India, corruption.
NGOs had played an important role in bringing out the grievances of the people and brought out cases to redress poverty, inequities and injustices. They have played a multi-faceted role in the body politic and championed the cause of various social movements.
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