NBJK has been involved in advocacy programmes through its Lok Samitis (people’s committees) for twenty years and it runs capacity building programmes for small NGOs as part of the development of its Community Action Network in Bihar and Jharkhand.  So, NBJK is not wedded to a ‘service delivery approach’ to development, but it does believe that the high priority given by funders to the ‘rights based approach ’ means their ability to work with disadvantaged people to enable them to meet their essential needs today is extremely limited. 

‘These days, most of the funding agencies are changing their priorities to the “Rights” mode.  Their belief is that governments should be pressurised to work effectively and that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should work in co-ordination with governments on development programmes.

But there are real and very practical problems with this approach. The Government of India has its own limitations.  Unlike developed countries, it doesn’t have large funds for development work and much of the government’s income is used simply to keep the system running.  The little that should be available for development work, or other social programmes, is often misused because of the complex structures, delays in decision making and corruption. Making the system work more effectively is like beating ones head against a stone.

In my opinion, after many years of trying, it is just about impossible to reform the government system.  Trying to co-ordinate with government agencies and programmes results in a huge waste of time and resources by the NGOs.  Now it is time to reduce the scope of the government’s activities.  Government has become a machine, which harasses people rather than brings benefits to them.

The priority for the funding agencies should be to promote more grassroots NGOs of committed activists able to work face-to-face with people in an area that they know well.  These groups are able to practice people’s participation, which is the essential element in all development work.

The “Rights” based approach to development means that funding agencies are devoting more of their resources to capacity building and promotional programmes.  But in these programmes very few resources reach the ordinary people.  Most of the benefit goes to the well off, educated elite who charge very high fees to travel the country running training sessions.  Such capacity building programmes provide no benefits for disadvantaged people because even if they attend the course, the training is imposed from above and the course leader is unable usually to understand the trainees’ needs and priorities.  Thus, disparities within the society are increasing rather than decreasing.

In my opinion, funding agencies should support programmes which benefit disadvantaged people directly.  Capacity building for the grassroots groups is essential, but it should be based on their needs and the groups should contribute to the costs.  That will ensure their commitment and the sustainability of their programmes.

We know that funding organisations are raising funds with the very best of intentions, but their money is not benefiting poor people as much as it should.  The funding organisations are not getting accurate feedback from those working at the grassroots.  Instead, they are being advised by a particular class of people who have vested interest in keeping the current approach and maintaining a distance between the donor agencies and the people.

It is on the basis of thirty years experience of grassroots work and deep concern for disadvantaged people that I have set out the problem.  We, at NBJK, hope that policy-makers in funding organisations will consider these points seriously.’

Originally published in the April-June 2001 issue of NBJK News.