WE THE PEOPLE
NGOs Have Failed to Provide Fertile Ground for Vibrant Civil Society in the Valley of Kashmir
Hence they are urged to Strengthen and encourage Locals to Design Programmes to build Utility Services
By: Mirror News Service
Srinagar: In our first two Parts, we have stated 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 very high in Kashmir valley today.
We have dwelt 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. Thousands of NGOS have come up in Kashmir valley since the out-break 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. But 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 recently released book of a renowned Kashmiri Sociologist-Prof B A Dabla’s book Sociological Study of Widows and Orphans in Kashmir throws more light on this worrying aspect.
The majority of NGOs in 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 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.
We know an efficient Civil Society plays an important role in enlightening and adding new lease of charm and life to a modern society and is considered among the most needed institutions in a civilized society. It is worth mentioning that Non Governmental Organizations also commonly known as NGOs play leading and crucial role in forming a vibrant and active civil society in any part of the planet earth.
But here in the Valley of Kashmir it is unfortunate to point out that there is absence of a vibrant civil society, the bedrock of any state system, owing to the many years of conflict is apparent from the lack of social institutions and the failure of the political leadership to harness the energy of the people in a constructive direction. NGOS on their part have terribly failed to provide a fertile ground for a vibrant civil society in the valley of Kashmir. In contrast to what we find here in Kashmir is that there are a handful of youth groups, blood banks and orphanages, but no development NGOs or trade associations in forming a constructive civil society in this part of the world.
It is worth mentioning here that after the decline of violence in the Valley of Kashmir; experts have time and again started that Post-conflict situations call for physical reconstruction. But a well-developed civil society, along with an independent media and judiciary, are equally essential for sustainable growth and stability. The importance of efforts to rebuild civil society by the constructive role of NGOS and establishment of the rule of law, stimulation of political dialogue and public participation, which is essentially made possible by a vibrant civil society, must not be under-estimated, as they provide both formal and informal institutions for reconstruction in post-conflict situations. Therefore, efforts to strengthen civil society is a necessity that can be facilitated by NGOs, both local and otherwise, in a number of ways – by assisting local communities and individuals in the design of programmes, providing capacity building services, access to financing, and establishment of legal entities like cooperatives. ....................................................................................................(To be continued)
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