JAIPUR: The draft policy being formulated by the Central Government for the voluntary sector is expected to build up an institutional link between official agencies and non-government organisations for effective implementation of development schemes at the grassroots level.

The policy, likely to be included in the approach paper for the 11th Five Year Plan, would promote the concepts of inclusive development and people's participation and encourage NGOs to evolve partnership with the Government, Rajesh Tandon, a member of the Planning Commission's Task Force on the policy, said here.

Dr. Tandon, who was here to attend the silver jubilee celebration of Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) on Friday, underlined the need for ensuring a direct role for people at large in the implementation of projects. "The public-private partnership model does not take into account the views of people directly affected by policies. The people need to be brought in," he said.

Participatory development can be ensured by evolving an enabling environment for NGOs, encouraging social mobilisation and promoting resource flow to the voluntary sector, according to Dr. Tandon. The Voluntary Action Network of India (VANI), headed by Dr. Tandon, is actively working in these fields.

VANI, an association of 2,000 voluntary organisations working across the country, has also concentrated on cooperating with the representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in an attempt to influence those responsible for executing the schemes to extend maximum benefits to the target groups.

Dr. Tandon -- an acclaimed practitioner of participatory research -- said the Government would remain a major source of funding for NGOs in near future. The voluntary sector would have to come to terms with reduction in foreign funding in view of security atmosphere around the world, he added. The PRIA silver jubilee function was inaugurated by the Speaker of the Rajasthan Assembly, Sumitra Singh, and attended by elected representatives of PRIs and members of various NGOs.

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