WE THE PEOPLE
With Non-delivery of local NGOs, National/International NGOs have become Prominent
Hence People urge Govt., to curb Fake and encourage Genuine NGOs to help deserving Ones in Kashmir Valley
By: Mirror News Service
Srinagar: We have stated in our first Part that J&K State has undergone a traumatic situation for the last two decades and this has opened a window for some people to create space and play some role in the name of some Organization. In the process, we have numerous such Bodies in the State in general, but their number has gone up very high in Kashmir valley today.
No doubt, at the global level, some Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) have played a major role in pushing for sustainable development. The campaigning groups have been key drivers of inter-governmental negotiations, ranging from the help towards human causes from regulation of hazardous wastes to a global ban on land mines and the elimination of slavery.
We dwelt earlier at length as to how these NGOs have failed to perform their basic responsibilities of providing assistance and relief to masses that they are supposed to provide in diverse forms. As it is known thousands of NGOS have come up in the Kashmir valley since the outbreak of violent conflict some two decades back. A majority of NGOs have come into existence in the name of helping needy orphans who have been the main victims of two decades old war in Kashmir. It is disheartening to point out that majority of NGOS working for this noble cause have just minted money in the name of helping needy orphans and done very little to change the status of Kashmiri orphans towards betterment. This grave facet is made clear by the ground realities and intellectual studies. The book of a renowned Kashmiri sociologist has lifted the lid and brought facts to the fore.
It is worth mentioning here that the author has all praise for some of the Local Orphanages like J & K Yateem Trust, J & K Yateem Foundation, Yateeem Khana, HELP Foundation and Sakhawat Centre for their, what the author calls, “sincerity, honesty, commitment, transparency, discipline and management”. However, according to this book, the general impression about most of the orphanages is that these Centres do more good to the Managers/Organizers than orphans in whose name all the money and donations are raised. The author makes a fine observation about some 5000 NGOs operating in Kashmir which, according to him and many other sane voices, are “sponsored by outside agencies”.
On the other side of the spectrum, the NGOs of Kashmir valley have failed miserably in producing any prestigious “Study” related to different aspects of Kashmir. Whatever prestigious studies have come were being pioneered by National or International NGOs. A recent prestigious study of an international NGO, Action Aid states-“Climate change is devastating food production in Kashmir, Melting glaciers, changing rainfall and snow patterns and drying springs are all damaging farming in the north Indian state, the report says.
The new report, On the brink, reveals how vegetable production is sliding, the oilseed crop is down by 70 percent and the State’s once–rich paddy fields could see a 60% drop in rice cultivated by 2010.And on the contrary to this facet, local NGOs, which are thousands in number have never ever in recent memory come with any path breaking study related to the Valley of Kashmir.
The local NGOS despite being present for decades are nowhere to be seen in public sphere and in comparison some national NGOS have made a mark within a short span of time. Take the case of Anhad-a national NGO.Anhad has been working in Kashmir since October 2005. Anhad initially got involved with the relief work and later expanded the work to include education, livelihood, and community work. Within a short span of time this NGO has started working around in diverse fields and has deliberated upon the crucial issues of human right violations, creating democratic spaces and engaging with the youth of Kashmir in an impressive manner.
Therefore, saner voices call upon the State Government to wake up and have a strict and efficient mechanism to look deeply into the work of these thousands of NGOs and clean up the rot wherever it is required for the overall betterment of our Society.
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