Aided NGOs now under greater watch of Govt

New Delhi, Apr 5 (UNI) Government funding to NGOs would now be streamlined to ensure coverage of areas not adequately served by such organisations.

While forwarding new cases, the states are to ensure that proposals from service deficient areas were given priority, an official in the Ministry told UNI.

Moreover, the Ministry may in some cases go in for field inspection by its own agency to ensure proper utilisation of funds.

These requirements are part of a slew of measures taken by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, including decentralisation of the process of allocation of funds, to ensure that maximum benefit to the targeted groups is extracted from government funding to voluntary bodies.

The screening committee of the Ministry would take the factor of deficiently served areas into account while sanctioning funds.

This was necessitated as it has often been found that there was concentration of NGOs in some areas while several others remained neglected.

The Ministry has sent a circular to states to constitute a multi-disciplinary 'Grants in Aid Committee for supporting the Voluntary Organisations.' The Committee would examine ground functioning and suitability of the NGOs for continuation of grants through field officers.

It is to submit all proposals in one lot indicating the priority.

While formulating their recommendations, states and union territories would consider the need of different areas and balance both the ongoing and as well as the new cases.

Priority would be given to continuing projects, but their gradual tapering/phasing out may be necessary in some cases to consider fresh needs.

The release to NGOs for the whole financial year would now be made in one instalment.

The Ministry has directed states to constitute the committee immediately and send their proposals to it by June 30.

In the beginning of the financial year, the Ministry would indicate the notional allocation of funds to state and Union Territories, and they would in turn submit their recommendation.

The Ministry would not follow individual proposals from states for release of funds.

Based on recommendations of the states, the Ministry would process state-wise releases as per the approved norms.

Whenever felt necessary, the Ministry would get field inspection conducted by its own agencies. However, this would be done only in cases of necessity.

At present there are eight NGO funding schemes -- Scheme of Grant in Aid to Voluntary Organisation Working for Scheduled Castes; Scheme for Assistance to Voluntary Organisations for the Welfare of Other Backward Classes; Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme; An Integrated Programme for Older Persons; Scheme for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substances(Drugs) Abuse and Assistance to Voluntary Organisations for General Grant in Aid in the Field of Social Defence.

UNI