Sports ministry revises financial support scheme for NGO's and other

New Delhi, June 16 (UNI) The Government in its bid to streamline the procedure, promoting genuine NGOs and to bring in transparency and uniformity across the schemes, has revised procedure for processing proposals under financial assistance schemes to NGO's and other voluntary organisations.

Accordng to an official release issued by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports here today, the revised procedure will come into effect from the current financial year 2006-07.

The Ministry is providing financial assistance to voluntary agencies/NGOs under the four schemes--Scheme for Development and Empowerment of Adolescents, Scheme for Promotion of Youth Activities and Training, Scheme for Promotion of Adventure and Scheme for Promotion of National Integration.

As per the revised procedure the ministry will invite applications from NGOs after giving advertisement in newspapers. The applicant NGOs will be required to submit proposals in triplicate to the prescribed recommending authorities under the scheme. The recommending authority will forward NGO applications in duplicate to the Secretary Youth Affairs in their respective State Government/UT Administration after verification and counter-signing as required under the scheme. The last date for receipt of application by State/UT Government is June 30 for current financial year. The State Government/UT Administration will constitute a screening committee under the chairpersonship of the Secretary, Youth Affairs in the State/UT for screening, scrutiny, per-appraisal, technical feasibility, trained manpower for the proposed activity and past performance/credibility of the NGO including their financial soundness/non-involvement in the anti-social or anti-national activities etc.. The Screening Committee will consists of Vice-Chancellor/Head of any reputed educational institution, Zonal Director, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, one non-official representing NGO/Civil society who is not a beneficiary applicant and Director, Youth Affairs. The Screening Committee will shortlist a limited numbers of proposals commensurate with the tentative state-wise allocation.

Any proposal received directly in the ministry during 2006-07 from April 1 to June 30 will be referred back to the State Government for their consideration by the Screening Committee.

The State Government will forward proposals short-listed by the Screening Committee in single copy to Government of India scheme-wise. It will also indicate the priority in which the proposals may be considered by the Center. The last date of receipt of applications by Government of India is July 30.

Proposals of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, National Services Scheme, Central Organisations/Central Universities including Association of Indian Universities, Sports Authority of India, Bharat Scouts and Guide will be entertained directly by the ministry provided the proposal is self appraised by their respective Head Offices. Proposals from Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports, Indian Mountaineering Foundation will also be considered directly by the ministry.

All lndia NGOs (referred as consultative NGO) will also be allowed to submit proposals directly to the ministry. For this purpose, an expert group will be constituted by the ministry who, on the basis of specific performance bench mark to be laid down in advance, will notify such NGOs for a fixed time period and such NGOs will require renewal thereafter for availing the benefit of applying directly.

The proposals recommended by the State Government/received directly from the notified institutions will be valid for relevant financial year only and will not be carried forward to the next financial year,the release added.

UNI/BKS PDS RK1812