The Hindu : New Delhi News : ``NGOs should be called societal transformers''

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 26, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

``NGOs should be called societal transformers''

Staff Correspondent

"Funds allotted to development agencies should be used properly"

NEW DELHI: The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, on Monday called upon non-governmental organisations and rural development agencies to assist under-developed States such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and in the North-eastern region with rural transformation. Inaugurating a national summit of rural NGOs of India, organised by the Ministry of Rural Development, Mr. Kalam said that a study had shown that the huge annual investment from foreign contributors and grants-in-aid from various departments through NGOs was not reaching the grass-root level in the villages to the expected degree.

"The study indicates that large contributions of societal works of NGOs are visible in certain southern States and Maharashtra," he said.

Appreciating the contribution of NGOs to the welfare of society, Mr. Kalam suggested that the NGOs be called "societal transformers" as the word `non' was a negative term.

He said rural development was an important mission and the funds allotted to various agencies, including NGOs, had to be properly used for which a transparent management and performance system was essential.

"For ensuring continuity of development, the Rural Development Ministry should have five years to all functionaries of the empowered management system. This will bring a system of accountability among the functionaries," he said.

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