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Role of Voluntary Organizations in Child Welfare and Development

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The role of nonprofit organizations in child welfare and development is the topic of this post. It seeks to give the learners a thorough grasp of the non-profit organizations fighting for children's rights and children's challenges in India. Additionally, it attempts to give a fundamental grasp of the idea of voluntarism and its significance for the welfare and development of children. This blog would teach knowledge necessary to serve as a child rights functionary and comprehension of the fundamental requirements for operating as a nonprofit organization in India.

Content

  1. Introduction
  2. Prerequisites for Functioning as a Voluntary Organization
  3. Guidelines for VOs
  4. Role of Voluntary Organizations in Development
  5. Schemes being implemented by VOs
  6.  Database of Voluntary Organizations
  7. The Credibility Alliance's Minimum Norms for VOs
  8. Functions of the VOs for Child Development
  9. Vulnerable Children
  10. Conclusion

Introduction

The Indian government has supported voluntarism as a long-cherished tradition ever since the country's independence. The development and implementation of our participatory democracy are greatly aided by the voluntary organizations, or NGOs as they are incorrectly known. Another name for VOs is "Civil Society Organizations." Organizations engaged in public service based on ethical, cultural, social, economic, political, religious, spiritual, philanthropic, or scientific and technological considerations are included in the National Policy on the Voluntary Sector as voluntary organizations.

India's VOs have made significant contributions to numerous development programs. VOs offer creative and affordable alternatives to traditional development approaches. Through methods such as awareness-raising, social mobilization, service delivery, training, research, and advocacy, the volunteer sector has made a substantial contribution to the development of creative solutions to poverty, deprivation, prejudice, and exclusion. The non-profit sector has effectively connected the populace with the government on an apolitical basis. They inspire individuals to engage in beneficial community activity, frequently connect with the most vulnerable and marginalized members of society, and support the socioeconomic growth of the nation on a much larger scale. Nearly all regions of the nation have a sizable presence of the volunteer sector, which is increasingly acknowledged by the government as a key development partner (Planning Commission, 2007). Community-based organizations (CBOs), non-governmental development organizations (NGDOs), philanthropic organizations, support organizations, networks or federations of such organizations, as well as professional membership associations, all fall under the category of voluntary organizations (VOs). Due to their independence, VOs are able to investigate alternative development paradigms, question social, economic, and political forces that can be working against the public interest, and come up with fresh solutions to problems like poverty, deprivation, and other social issues. Therefore, it is essential that all laws, policies, rules, and regulations pertaining to VOs unequivocally protect their autonomy while also assuring their accountability.

Numerous independent, nongovernmental organizations are necessary in a pluralistic society with a democratic system in order to act as a barrier between the person and the state and prevent the government from establishing monopolies in certain industries. Volunteer organizations engage people in good deeds, prevent the consolidation of power in the hands of the government, and act as power brokers. Sharing of authority among non-governmental organizations prevents the government from adopting a monopoly method of service organization. The amount of money and labor needed by the state to meet all of its citizens' requirements is insufficient. Therefore, it may be tasked with meeting their bare need. The non-profit organizations can fill unmet needs and improve the quality of life in the community by raising additional funds locally. VOs assist the state in areas that are solely its duty but for which it has limited resources, and they do so considerably more effectively than state entities.

Prerequisites for Functioning as a Voluntary Organization

Under section 25 of the Companies Act, voluntary organizations may be registered as societies, charitable trusts, or non-profit corporations under Central or State laws (1956). While some States have unique legislation, others have adapted the Societies Registration Act of 1860. Similar disparities exist in state legislation governing charitable trusts. Public donations are a significant source of funding for the nonprofit sector in India, where philanthropy has a long history. Donations to charitable organizations are further facilitated by a tax-concessions system. The support of such groups and their work in the nation comes in large part from international funding of volunteer organizations. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act mandates that any group seeking foreign funds register. This regulation establishes onerous screening requirements that frequently limit VOs' access to foreign funding. Additionally, the central government has developed criteria allowing bilateral organizations to directly support nonprofits for important social and economic projects.

Guidelines for VOs

The Central and State Governments' various ministries have created detailed guidelines for integrating VOs in the implementation of various programs. Project proposals are requested from VOs based on their guidelines, and then authorized by the sanctioning authority of the relevant Department or Ministry (Planning Commission, 2007). Following are some terms and guidelines that have been implemented for giving financial help to VOs:
  • VOs (NGOs) should be registered under the relevant statutes. 
  • They should have completed two/ three years of work since the date of registration before applying for funding. 
  • They should have had a bank or post office account for at least two/ three years preceding the date of filing the application for funding.
VOs must register with the National CSR Hub at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai if they want to get support through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts of Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs). The empanelment procedure intends to give PSEs a list of trustworthy and respectable organizations to work with on CSR initiatives. This will help create powerful alliances and CSR initiatives. The main goal of the CSR Hub is to give PSEs the tools they need to identify, create, and carry out comprehensive CSR programs that are essential to their organizations' vision, mission, values, and goals. Periodic reviews of the organizations that the CSR Hub has empanelled are conducted. Criteria for Empanelment Application Eligibility include: completion of at least 3 years from the registration date, The Societies Registration Act of 1860, the Bombay Public Trust Act of 1950, the Indian Trusts Act of 1882, or Section 25 of the Companies Act of 1956 are all applicable for registration.

Role of Voluntary Organizations in Development

Through community involvement and the voluntary sector in particular, development can benefit greatly. VOs can provide diverse viewpoints, devoted expertise, knowledge of the opportunities and limitations specific to the area, and probably most crucially, the ability to engage in meaningful engagement with communities, especially underserved ones. With this benefit in mind, both the federal and state governments have introduced a number of programs to carry out various development projects, wherein the relevant Departments or Ministries offer financial assistance to VOs to carry out welfare and development operations (Planning Commission, 2007).

The Steering Committee on Voluntary Sector for the Eleventh Plan was established on May 22, 2006, taking into consideration the growing significance of VOs' contributions and the need to further enhance the voluntary sector. The Planning Commission created a National Policy on the Voluntary Sector, which was approved by the Government of India in May 2007, after consultation with VOs, relevant Departments/ Ministries, and State Governments (Planning Commission, 2007). The National Policy on the Voluntary Sector seeks to support, develop, and empower a diverse, independent, innovative, and effective voluntary sector so that it may improve India's social, cultural, and economic well-being. Without compromising the autonomy or character of VOs, this policy is seen as the start of a process to develop a new working relationship between the government and the voluntary sector.

National Policy on the Voluntary Sector recognizes three instruments of partnership, viz., 
  • (i) Consultation, through a formal process of interaction at the Centre, State and District level; 
  • (ii) Strategic collaboration to tackle complex interventions where sustained social mobilization is critical over a long term; and 
  • (iii) Project funding through standard schemes . 

With effect from February 20, 2006, the Department of Women and Child Development was upgraded to the rank of an independent Ministry at the Union level in order to recognize the significance of the social sector and to hasten the development process. The Ministry of WCD has given VOs the task of putting various child-focused programs into action.

Schemes being implemented by VOs

The following is a list of the different child-centered initiatives for nonprofit organizations that some departments and ministries of the Indian government have implemented.

Children Related Schemes for VOs 

  • Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) 
  • Balika Samriddhi Yojana (BSY) 
  • Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY) 
  • Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls (NPAG)
  • Early Childhood Education for 3-6 Age Group Children under the Programme of Universaliation of Elementary Education. 
  • Scheme for welfare of Working Children in need of Care and Protection. 
  • The Integrated Child Protection Scheme, including Childline Services. 
  • Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA). 
  • Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme for the Children of Working Mothers. 

Common Schemes 

  • Draft Comprehensive Scheme for Prevention of trafficking and Rescue. ·
  • Rehabilitation and Re-integration of Victims of Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation.
  • Pilot Project to combat the trafficking of Women and Children for commercial sexual exploitation.
  • General Grant-in-Aid Scheme in the field of Women and Child Development. 

Food and Nutrition Schemes 

  • Nutrition Education and Training though Community Food & Nutrition Extension Units (CFNEUS).

Schemes of Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) 

  • The Central Social Welfare Board provides funding to VOs for implementation of a variety of programmes for the benefit of women, children and disadvantaged groups. The Board is currently funding VO’s under the following schemes: Creches; Mahila Mandals; Family Counseling Centers; Short Stay Homes; Awareness Generation Programs; Condensed courses of Education for Women; and Vocational Training Programs

Database of Voluntary Organizations

Databases of VOs from all sectors and levels are helpful for facilitating communication both within the voluntary sector and between the voluntary sector and the public and private sectors.

The Documentation Center for Women and Children (DCWC), NIPCCD published a number of Directories of Voluntary Organizations working in areas such as health, nutrition, child welfare, social welfare, women welfare, destitute children, including adoption and street children, child labor, social defense, including trafficking, funding organizations, human development and education, scheduled castes/ scheduled tribes, and rural areas to highlight the work of voluntary organizations. The directories provide comprehensive details about organizations and their operations, including postal addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, internet addresses, e-mail addresses, and key terms identifying their programs and activities. The organizations involved in child welfare are covered by this document. Organizations in the Directory have been organized alphabetically by state for the benefit of users, and a retrieval index is available. State-by-state, it includes a total of 169 VOs. It also provides a list of a select "Child Welfare Field NGOs" that are supported by the Indian government (NIPCCD, 2008).

A "Profile of Indian Voluntary Organizations-2013" has also been created by a non-profit organization in New Delhi called "Research and Information System for Developing Countries". This includes a list of 82 Indian nonprofits that serve in a variety of fields, including child development.

 The Credibility Alliance's Minimum Norms for VO

A coalition of voluntary organizations (VOs) called Credibility Alliance (CA) is dedicated to improving accountability and transparency in the voluntary sector through good governance. CA was a sector-wide initiative that was registered as an autonomous, not-for-profit organization in May 2004. The Organization was established following a two-year long, intensive consultative process that included more than 545 VOs from all over India. The goal of CA as an organization is to increase confidence among all stakeholders by enhancing governance and promoting responsible behavior in the voluntary sector. Currently, it has 545 accredited VOs, many of which are accredited child rights organizations. The Minimum or Basic Norms of CA have resulted in the accreditation of 255 VOs in total.

CA’s ‘Minimum or Basic Norms’

  1. The organisation has been in existence for a minimum of one year from from the date of registration 
  2. The physical address given by the organisation is verifiable. 
  3. The organisation is registered as Trust/Society/Section 25 Company. 
  4. Registration documents of the organisation are available on request. 
  5. A shared vision/purpose/objective is articulated beyond the registration documents. 
  6. The organisation has defined indicators, which will measure its performance against its stated objectives. 
  7. The organisation has a Governing Board, by whatever name called. 
  8. The organisation discloses name, age, sex, work experience, and position of Board members. 
  9.  Not more than half the Board members have remunerative roles. 
  10. The Board meets at least twice a year with quorum as stipulated in its own Memorandum of Association. 
  11. All remuneration and reimbursements to Board members are to be disclosed. 
  12. Minutes of Board meetings are documented and circulated. 
  13. The Board approves programmes, budgets, annual activity reports and audited financial statements. 
  14. The Board has a policy on purchases, disposable, sale of assets, investments etc. to gain comparative advantage to the organisation, which also assures transparency. 
  15. The Board ensures the organisation's compliance with laws and regulations. 
  16. Activities to be in line with the vision/purpose/objective of the organisation. 
  17. Appropriate systems be in place for periodic programme planning/ monitoring/ review. 
  18. Appropriate systems be in place for Internal control. 1
  19. Appropriate systems be in place for Consultative decision-making. 
  20. Clear roles and responsibilities for personnel (including volunteers) exist. 
  21. All personnel are issued a letter of contract/ appointment. 
  22. Appropriate Personnel Policy is in place. 
  23. Signed audited statements are available: balance sheet, income & expenditure statement, receipts and payments account, and the statutory auditors' report. 
  24. Statement of Accounts to indicate whether they have been constructed on a cash or accrual basis. 
  25. The organisation's Annual Report be disseminated/communicated to key stakeholders and available on request every year, within 8 months of the end of the organisation's financial year.

Desirable Norms

Under CA's Desirable Norms, 267 VOs have received accreditation in total. These are the "Desirable Norms" of CA.
  1. At least 2/3 of Board members are unrelated by blood or marriage. 
  2. A Board Rotation Policy exists and is practised. 
  3. The organisation must disclose in its annual report, the salary and benefits of its Head, the three highest paid staff members and the lowest paid staff member. 
  4. The distribution of staff according to salary levels must be disclosed in the annual report.

Functions of the VOs for Child Development

Nearly 19% of all children on the planet live in India. Around 440 million people, or more than one third of the total population, are under the age of 18. (MWCD, 2010). Children (0-14 years old) make about one third of the nation's overall population (Children in India, 2012). Many youngsters endure challenging conditions. In India, there are numerous Ministries involved in the child protection program, and they have been carrying out various plans and programs to assist various vulnerable kid populations with a variety of complex needs. Program for Juvenile Justice, Integrated Program for Street Children, Shishu Grih Scheme, Scheme for Working Children in Need of Care and Protection, General Grant-in-Aid Scheme, CHILDLINE Service, Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme for the children of working mothers, Pilot Project to Combat the Trafficking of Women and Children for Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Destination Areas, etc. are important schemes and programs for such children. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has combined its existing child protection programs under one integrated, centrally sponsored program titled "Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS)" in order to achieve the goals of reaching out to all children, including those in challenging situations. The Scheme operates as a partnership between the government and civil society, with the central and state governments having overall control and accountability for it (National Report, 2007).

India approved the National Policy for Children on August 22, 1974. According to this policy, the state must provide children with necessary services before and after birth as well as during the developmental stages to ensure their full physical, mental, and social development. A thorough health program, supplemental nutrition for mothers and children, free and mandatory education for all children up to the age of 14, the promotion of physical education and recreational activities, special consideration for children from weaker sections like SCs and STs, the prevention of child exploitation, among other things, are just a few of the suggested measures. On February 9th, 2004, the National Charter for Children was published in the Indian Gazette. India reaffirmed its commitment to the cause of children by ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on December 11, 1992. India is a signatory to the SAARC Conventions on Child Welfare and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children in the SAARC Region as well as the Millennium Development Goals.

VOs can be categorized into three kinds based on their primary areas of focus: 1) Service Providing VOs, which are welfare-oriented and primarily serve the poor, marginalized, or vulnerable; 2) Empowerment VOs, which are development-focused and rights-based organizations. They work to improve the socioeconomic standing of the disadvantaged and marginalized; and 3) Support Organizations: They help smaller VOs build their capacities via education and other means so they may perform more efficiently. VO's primary responsibilities include assessing the needs of individuals, groups, and communities and launching programs and programmes to address them when the state cannot effectively address them on its own due to financial constraints. Some VOs carry it out independently or with the assistance of grants-in-aid from public or private financing sources. Numerous activities are being carried out at various levels. VOs are taking these actions in every area of a child's development that has to do with their survival, growth, protection, and participation. In India, a small number of VOs act as "Advocacy Groups" and watchdogs to ensure that children's rights, as outlined in numerous national and international agreements, are upheld.

Vulnerable Children:

Voluntary Organizations are working for the development of the following vulnerable groups of children:
  1. Street children 
  2. Children who are victims of CS exploitation and Trafficking 
  3. Missing children/ Trafficked children · Abused children
  4. Orphaned, abandoned and destitute children 
  5. Juveniles in conflict with law (JICL) 
  6. Children engaging in substance abuse
  7. Children affected by conflicts and disasters 
  8. Children from families at risk 
  9. Mentally ill children 
  10. Working children/ child labour 
  11. Differently abled children 
  12. HIV/AIDS affected /infected children
The following are examples of institutional and non-institutional child protection services and programs offered by non-profit organizations in India for disadvantaged children:
  • Foster care services 
  • Children’s homes 
  • Observation home 
  • Special home 
  • Fit institutions 
  • Fit person custody 
  • Shelter homes/ drop in centres/ place of safety 
  • Adoption institutions 
  • Shishu grehas 
  • Sponsorship organizations and services 
  • Child care institutions, homes, shelters, organizations, centres 
  • Community based (counseling centres , child guidance centres)

Institutions under JJ Act: 

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act of 2000 provides protection for minors. Government-run institutions are outnumbered by VO-run institutions under the JJ Act. One such VO that started providing ground-breaking services through its multiple juvenile and child care establishments in Mumbai is the Children's Aid Society (CAS). These were Children's Homes, Homes for Mentally Challenged Children, Special Homes (David Sassoon Industrial School), and Observation Homes. The state government started managing the CAS as a result. Today, VOs in several states are in charge of various institutions covered by the JJ Act.

Child Health:

The National Rural Health Programme, which was established in 2005, sought to enhance medical services in rural areas. The Program also aims to increase public health spending in order to make structural changes to the healthcare sector. Reduced IMR and MMR, universal access to public health services, prevention and control of communicable and noncommunicable diseases, including endemic diseases, access to primary health care that is comprehensive and integrated, population stabilization, gender and demographic balance, revitalization of local medical systems and traditions, and promotion of healthy lifestyles are the objectives of the Mission (National Report, 2007). VOs play a significant role in these efforts. Another excellent example of volunteerism in the field of child health is the Rotary Clubs' "Pulse Polio" project. Numerous VOs also work with children who are impacted by and infected with HIV/AIDS. 

Care for Young Children:

Another innovative VO that has spent more than 60 years promoting child welfare in India is the Indian Council for Child Welfare. Through its nationwide creche program, it has been offering early childhood care for more than three decades. The Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for Children of Working Mothers was the program's new name once it was renamed by the Indian government in 2006. ICCW currently manages 5303 creches in 31 States and Union Territories around the nation. Through this program, ICCW covers children in 449 districts, including tribal, rural, and urban youth. It offers daycare services to children (0–6 years old) of working mothers as well as all-encompassing care for these children's physical, mental, and emotional development. About 25 children are cared for in each crèche, which is run by a creche worker and a helper. They receive supplemental nourishment, access to immunization and health care services, recreational activities, and informal pre-school instruction.

Children's Helpline

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai launched the Childline India Foundation (CIF), another VO, as a field action project. This VO is credited for creating CHILDLINE 1098, the first and only emergency helpline for children in India. This program is now a part of the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development's Integrated Child Protection Programme, and CIF has been given the responsibility of replicating this helpline service throughout the nation. The Government of India has backed the establishment of Childline India Foundation (CIF) as a central institution to oversee and guarantee the qualitative growth of the Childline service throughout the nation.

Services for adoption:

VOs have also made a significant contribution to the fields of adoption and non-institutional services. More than 70 VOs for incountry adoptions have received recognition from the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Additionally, there are organizations that can handle international adoption. A Central Adoption Resource Agency was established to provide a thorough framework and criteria for regulating adoption both inside and outside the nation. All of these agencies are governed by this agency (National Report, 2007). A Shishu Greh Scheme has been put in place by the union ministry of WCD to encourage adoptions inside the nation and to guarantee basic standards in the care of abandoned, orphaned, and destitute children.

Street kids, kids who are trafficked, and kids who go missing:

Another significant area of volunteer work is with street children, trafficking children, and missing children, who collectively make up the most vulnerable category of children. There are two groups of street children: those who work the streets but live with their families or see them occasionally, and those who have no contact with their family at all. Although there isn't any verified information on the number of street kids, it is assumed that they are numerous and largely concentrated in major cities. The Union government launched an Integrated Programme for Street Children to include accommodations, food, medical attention, education, and leisure activities. This service was mostly provided by nonprofit organizations (National Report, 2007).

the abolition of child labor

is a topic that the government and VOs are both deeply committed to and concerned about. Children are protected by the Constitution's Articles 24 and 39 from employment in economic pursuits and from occupations that are inappropriate for their age. Since the Constitutional Amendment, children up to the age of 14 have a basic right to education (Article 21A). Given the scope and severity of the issue, a deliberate and orderly approach has been established to remove and rehabilitate youngsters, starting with those involved in risky jobs and procedures. In August 1987, a "National Policy on Child Labor" was proclaimed. The Policy's multifaceted Action Plan focuses primarily on legal action, general development initiatives that help child families, and project-based action in regions with high concentrations of child labor. The National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme was launched in accordance with the Policy on Child Labor, and under it, special schools were opened for working children who had been taken off the job in order to get them ready for formal education. Under the NCLP Scheme, thousands of special schools that are mostly managed by VOs have been authorized. Additionally, the government has been directly assisting hundreds of VOs to undertake projects meant to give working children access to chances for education and vocational training through the grants-in-aid program (National Report, 2007).

Elementary education: 

It has also been decided to make education free and mandatory for all children up to the age of 14 in conjunction with the commencement of the huge Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan for the universalization of basic education in the nation. Girls' education and high-quality education are prioritized. The program for elementary education has made considerable strides. The number of students who are not in school has decreased. Girls are now enrolling in greater numbers. There has been a decline in the number of female elementary school dropouts. The program's current focus is on raising learning standards and reducing teacher-to-student ratios (National Report, 2007). Despite the fact that the government is responsible for overseeing education, a vast majority of educational institutions are run and managed by nonprofit organizations, and these institutions outperform government institutions in terms of service quality. So, another significant area of VO involvement is in education.

children with disabilities

The "Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995" is currently being implemented by a large number of VOs. Children with special needs can receive institutional and non-institutional assistance from these VOs.

Conclusion

As was made clear from the discussion above, VOs have been essential in the development sector in general and in the fields of child welfare and child development in particular. It is a fact that VOs were pioneers in developing the blueprints for many child welfare and developmental interventions. To improve the legitimacy of VOs and expedite their operations, certain rules have been developed. VOs have been collaborating with the Central and State governments on a number of child development programs. In fact, only VOs are responsible for running certain of the government's development programs. Through donations from people and organizations, the VOs have also been highly successful in mobilizing non-governmental resources.
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