Friday, November 06, 2009
How to expose corrupt practices of an NGO ?????
All of a sudden a need has arisen to write on something which badly needs attention. I will make a request before you read this article. Please write comments. It’s the need of the hour for this blog. And also do forward this to your friends so that something can be done.
Let me begin what I want to convey. India is home to crores of people who live below poverty line and there are lot of NGO’s working for the upliftment of them in their own way. There are lot of very good NGO’s which are professionally managed and have made a mark in their quest towards reaching the goals. Similarly there are tons of corrupt NGOs whose sole objective is to make money in the name of uplifting people.
I have come across an NGO which to the outer world is doing a great job but internally they are making crores of rupees using someone’s name. I am going to write about the corrupt practices followed in making money.
The NGO raises huge sums of money from the corporate world, especially IT companies in the name of kids and nobody gets to know how much was spent from the amount received. IT companies as part of their social commitments as well as for tax savings purpose dole out huge sums of money to them and they hardly make verification on the expenses in this regard. Let me cite a few instances of this corrupt practice.
They say that the organization has 40 employees. And they are paying an average salary of 20000 per month which amounts to Rs 8 lak per month and 96 lakhs per year. They get the money and they give 50% of it to employees and rest goes for personal expenses.
They quote a figure of Rs 24000 per year for maintenance of a boy or girl. They have around 300 kids. It amounts to 72 lakh per year. And the amount they actually spend on them is a pittance. Kids have to take bath in cold water early morning. The things (books, clothes, watches…) which are given to students by philanthropists are again sold to these kids by asking them to pay some money for the same.
These kids are talented and they regularly take part in shows organized by different groups. A sum of Rs 20000 to Rs 40000 per show is charged as fee and the kids who perform get a paltry 250Rs per head.
One of the employees of the organization who is highly talented despite having physical disabilities gets around Rs 30000 per month from a UN organization. The NGO doesn’t give the money to him and pays him a salary of Rs 6000 per month for having him employed.
One of the fund raisers for the organization approached a corporate entity. She was asked to give the accounts for last year’s contribution which they had made in lakhs. When the fund raiser asked expenditure report from the higher ups in the NGO she was forced to quit.
One of the trustees leads the life of a king. He has spent 2 lak for 2 days in a hospital for his wife for a very trivial reason. One trustee resides abroad and actively campaigns there to raise crores of rupees for the NGO. All of them own big houses at posh locations.
And these guys are all powerful. They have links with all the top politicians. If someone threatens to expose them they have solid underworld connections to ensure that the matter is dead and buried. The employees fear revolting for the same reason. The driver of a trustee was hacked to death under the guise of accident.
The NGO is neither growing nor shrinking. If it grows then it leads to public scrutiny and they fear this. If it shrinks they will not be able to get enough money. They ensure it remains afloat which suits them perfectly to make more money.
Friends I want you all to do me a favor. Suggest ways to expose this massive nature of corruption in the name of the underprivileged.
I have thought a few but want to know your opinion. Initially thought of conveying it to the print media but felt that they might capitalize on this rather than expose the corruption. But the options are open where in a credible media guy can do a good job of exposing this but how to find a credible guy.
Another option is to somehow managing to get the names of corporate world and philanthropists who have contributed handsomely to this NGO. Write a detailed letter to all asking them to ascertain whether the funds are properly utilized for what they are meant to.
I am not naming the NGO in this article as it might put the future of many genuine people working over there at stake. But certainly want to ensure that the people who are running this are held accountable.
I once again request one and all to convey their opinions to tackle this menace. Pass it on to your friends so that something can be done to make the NGO more accountable. Am just referring to one NGO but there are countless such corrupt NGOs. I do not want to generalize all of them as bad but do enquire about what they are into before you decide to contribute. I sincerely hope that through your opinions we all can do something fruitful to stop this imperil. It’s over to you all. You can place comments next to the title of the blog by clicking the numeral.
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16 comments:
i tnk one media person is there who can expose this act without harming the innocents... Rajeev Sardesai cnn-ibn.. post the issue to his website and i am sure there ll be some response..
How about TV9? Hope they too are not funded by these corrupt NGOs:)
A very much awaited topic i was waiting to hear about...sounds very similar to what i have heard about several NGO's from which employees have left due to the shock they face on entering into the world of the top secrets of the top level managament...
Unimaginable...we have seen in films and stories how Villains disguise themselves in the form of 'Annadaatas' or 'Bhagavans' in front of the people and they use that image to run their 'Doosra' Business Smoothly...
NGO's Use another main weapon...Sympathy...In most NGO's one of the trustees or the founders is Disabled (and undoubtably talented) and has no problems to attract attention and sympathy...They very well know how to use the other students on the name of whose the funds keep coming and all is well from the outside...
We have been actively involved in an NGO for the Blind and disabled from past 3 years and were very happy thinking we're doing the best service to Mankind...Its only after we got closer and found the real picture too pathetic and scary as well...
Since then i have also been thinking on what best can be done to expose such NGO's. Having heard from several people i'm almost disillusioned with the NGO's and the way they work...i have started doubting whether there are any Genuine NGO's left?...
I feel the NGO's are genuine when they are started, do great path breaking work, create awareness, give platform for the Underprivileged, and struggle to fund their projects....once the initial field work is through and the NGO is established and its activities noticed in public, they dont have to do much to get the funds flowing...that stage starts the decline in the character of the founders of the NGO and the whole focus is only on the commercial aspect and the basic ethics and vision of the NGO is lost for ever...
The poor members of the NGO are tight mouthed about all they see and face as they are indebted to the NGo for having given them a chance or are Blackmailed in hundreds of ways they know best...
I can write more but i suddenly remember i'm not blogging but replying...so lets get it straight...
Some of the ways i think the NGO's can be kept in Check:
1. Govt. regulations to limit funding to NGO's.
2. List of Genuine NGO's to be prepared based on several yardsticks. Accreditation system to measure NGo Performance.
3. Foreign donors to be careful while donating and also should verify if the donations are going to the right pockets
4. Close scrutiny of the activities of NGO's by third party and third party auditing mandatory
5. Tax exemptions to be based on time period and activity effectiveness
6. As volunteers understand the problems of the inmates
7. Media attention is surely required but how effective they are?
NGO's are started and supported by the people for the people...so all of us together can expose our NGO's best...
I think u have made a start to make all of think about this seriously...i would love to see the response from others and their experiences with NGO's...
Its easy to talk but action is what matters....Lets ACT Together...
Expecting government to end these corrupt practices is not realistic. Donors have o verify the facts before donating. If one donates to the organisations which are in his neighbourhood, it would be easy to know/verify their functioning.
yes i agree with aak..while we know these are NON GOVERNMENT ORGANISTAIOns we cant expect govt to intervene..that should be the last resort..i generally have a good opinion about the whole NGOnising ..but this post is an eye opener..and indubitably the need of the hour..because wherever your money goes you must know how it is used,...
my suggestions are my two cents..and perhaps cliched
1)verify the authenticity of the NGO
2) decide whether you want to donate at all..dont have to hurry and donate just to appear a hero among your little friend crowd.this way you will end up doing the 'reach out thing' to the wrong people(who happen to be eager to reach for your wallet..:P )
3)if possible you work with the NGo before donating something...and above all service is the better half of charity...Paisa aaj hain kal nahi(courtesy:hera pheri)
nice issue i must say..
calling in media will result only in head swirls and lighting hitting your TV screens...the print media does all the good stuff..and then BLOGGERS have their weapon...
I got this info in the website http://www.rti-ngo.org/
“The organizations either private or NGO's which benefit partly or substantially from the government are also under the purview of this Act. There are some organizations who are not covered in this Act, but the exclusion is not absolute and these organizations have an obligation to provide information pertaining to allegations of corruption and human rights violation”.
Cheers for writing I will pop by and link on my blog in the UK.
very right. the problem is serious. we should--- (1) obtain substantial information in support of the allegation involving corruption, then (2) file a suit with the apeal to order the ceasure of the records of NGo by directing (by the Court) the concerned agency to carryout the investigation and submit the report to the court. (3) based on which dameages against the NGo can be claimed. so the onus to prove corruption lies upon the complainnants.
have you ever seen an person of ngo is booked for any financial irregularity. the reasons for it are two
1. there is no strict law to ensure transparency in the ngos.
2. the ngo people are excellent in their PR and even can use any means to counter allegation of corruption.
my friend in just exposed one bit of corrupt practices . even ngos resort to black mail and use unethical means (some times go against the interest if the nation)to get money so that the heavy weights of the organisation can lead handsomely.
South Africa is also experiencing the same things were u'd find NGO sucking a lot of money from Dep and Corporate funders in the name of community upliftment and trying to eliminate unemployment with youth by taking them on jobs which the initial salaries are not given to them in full.
Is there a way someone can secretly investigate the organisation?
Most "environmental" NGOs in the states are corrupt. NGOs use govt. monies and they are neither private individuals nor govt. NGOs operate in a gray area and are not subject to the same laws. Even though they may have liability insurance if they cause harm you will be the one suffering and losing while NGOs go about their way destroying habitat, farms,lives, land.
All the NGO'S in my area ,jharkhand are corrupt unless and otherwise proved!
I think NGOs should fall under RTI umbrella so that their funds can be scrutnized. We should know how much funds came and how much were actually spent with an evidence. They should also be subject to audit by CAG.
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