Though people are passionate to serve society, it’s time they also understand the importance of communication and acquire necessary skills to communicate
While the number of NGOs in India vary between one and three million and several of them receive funds running into millions of rupees from the government and from abroad, not all NGOs are serving the needs of the people they are garnering funds for.
Recently, NGOs came under the Supreme Court’s scrutiny. This was the aftermath of the Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) submitting that only 10 per cent (out of 2.2 million) NGOs had filed annual income and expenditure statements.
When this correspondent met British national Murray Culshaw, an independent development worker, who has been working with NGOs in India for over two decades, he pointed that it is as important to have a lens on NGOs, as it is vital for the health of a democratic society for NGOs to thrive, communicate and advocate their cause.
Passionate about social issues, Bangalore-based Murray claims he often meets people doing amazing work desperately needed by individuals and communities. And that they manage to do it “in the very challenging situations all around us in the beautiful yet twisted and torn world we live in.”
The interview:
KHALEEJ TIMES: What exactly is your work like?
MURRAY CULSHAW: I rarely use the word ‘work’ for what I do. In the vast range of opportunities, which exist, I concentrate on encouraging NGOs to communicate their work and raise resources to improve and expand their services.
How did it all begin?
I came as a carpentry teacher to India to be in a Christian technical school for youth (without academic qualifications) to learn skills to earn a living; I became interested in the management of technical institutes and NGOs working on development subjects like education and vocational training in rural areas.
This provided opportunities to travel and work as a freelance consultant for international agencies like the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and ActionAid in countries such as Kenya, Palestine and India. Then, I was responsible for Oxfam’s work in India and was based in Delhi for five years. During this period I became aware of the plight (isolation and shortage of income) of NGOs in urban and rural areas, tied to the ‘grant system’.
What exactly is the grant system and how does it work?
The grant-system has arisen from two sources. The first source is where good-hearted people collect money from like-minded people for a cause. This is done through an organisational structure for distribution to NGOs, who have submitted ‘proposals’ or ‘projects’. Sadly, NGOs are forced to spend precious leadership time convincing a few people for grants and often little thought goes into building understanding of and support for their cause in wider society. On the other hand, thousands of people offer money by way of this system, but they do not know to which NGO it goes.
Grant making organisations prefer giving grants for specific works — like running a school or digging a well, but do not care for the NGOs need for communication. This leaves NGOs with no money to communicate their work to society. The same situation prevails wherein the second source, that is grants from the government, is concerned. So neither grant making organisations or the government provide funds to help organisations communicate their work to society, even though it is vital.
You believe things could improve for NGOs if they were able to communicate to the society?
Creating a new brand of toothpaste may not be easy; but responding to people faced with disease, disabilities, lack of shelter, clothing and food, abused and denied rights, is even harder. So, if NGOs were to communicate how they were responding to people’s needs, society would certainly respond in all sorts of practical ways and NGOs and their services would become stronger. But the hurdle is both finance and manpower.
Apart from financial crunch, isn’t a shortage of skilled staff the reason for lack of communication?
Most certainly. Though people are passionate to serve society, it’s time they also understand the importance of both communication and the necessary skills to communicate. There are a few very short training courses. However, training alone cannot solve the problem. People with right intentions and good communication skills such as listening, speaking, writing and designing, have to be recruited. Such people do exist, but they may not have heard of opportunities or the need for their skills. If the need is understood by the NGO and ‘communicated’, a steady stream of youngsters could be recruited into communication teams, even if it means an NGO having to reduce so-called ‘programme’ work, to start with. Hiring one person and gradually expanding the team does work.
Most NGOs in India are said to be corrupt. What has been your experience?
Yes, some are corrupt. But I believe most corruption in NGOs comes from the ones who seek grants from the government. For many, it is a terrible dilemma. To get a grant sanctioned and then to get it disbursed, there is very often the ‘need’ to pay a bribe. Some do, but others refuse at the cost of not getting the grant.
Sadly, there is no research and, therefore, no facts to back up these statements. But ask any NGO if it’s true and I am confident they’ll verify it.
With the Supreme Court observing that NGOs hide facts on funds and making it mandatory for them to submit annual income and expenditure, you think it will make a difference?
Not just the NGOs, everyone, including political parties, private companies and individuals hide facts, even though submission of income and expenses is already mandatory! The problem is with the regulatory institutions, which are absolutely inadequate to report and analyze information. Though it is getting better now, one hopes that with improved computerisation the issues around financial transparency and accountability will reduce.
What else is required?
There’s a need to analyse a number of aspects of NGO finances, especially the salaries of CEO’s. A sample from a recently published US report reads: “The worst offender was yet again for the 11th year in a row — UNICEF. The CEO receives $1.2 million plus use of a Rolls Royce and an ‘expense’ account. Only $0.14 per dollar goes to the UNICEF cause.” So, if we could gather such facts in India, it could trigger some debate!
Any causes that you feel people are unaware of and could support?
I am associated with an organisation that works with the deaf-blind (people who may be born both deaf and blind, born blind and subsequently lose their hearing power, or born deaf and become blind). Many people have not even heard of such a condition. Few would be aware that there are around 500,000 estimated cases of deaf-blindness in the country.
Similarly, there’s an endless list of causes: the plight of children of mothers who have been put in prison; eye cancer; leprosy still being discovered everyday; abused children, various and dangerous forms of child labour; widows with no homes and elderly with no support — that need to be made known. That’s why I emphasise the need for NGOs to communicate their cause and build a solid base of people who understand and support.
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Source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=/data/expressions/2015/January/expressions_January13.xml§ion=expressions
