Apply for International Citizen Service (ICS) In India

Change the world within and around you!

VSO India is inviting applications for the first cycle of International Citizen Service in India (May 2017 to July 2017)

Last date to apply: Friday, January 27, 2017

To know more, contact us at 011 2689 0132 or email us at icsindia2017@gmail.com

Programme Snapshot

International Citizen Service (ICS) is a development programme that brings together young people from the UK and developing countries to volunteer in some of the poorest communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It is a unique initiative of the government of UK which was launched by the British Prime Minister in the year 2011 designed to enhance development understanding amongst young peoplefrom the UK between the age group 18-25 through development engagement.

As part of the ICS programme, a group of 10 international volunteers from the UK will volunteer in India wherein they will be paired with 10 national volunteers. The team of 20 volunteers will live and work in a community/organisation for a period of three months. The volunteers will be placed in the communities’ where they will be engaged in work placements in thematic areas of livelihood and education.

Apply now if you are

· An Indian national in the age group of 18-25 years

· Committed and motivated

· Willing to devote three months (full time) living in a village in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh or Maharashtra.

· Can speak and understand English and Hindi languages

· Able to join the programme from May 2017 to July 2017

About VSO India

VSO India is a development organisation committed to addressing issues of poverty and exclusion. We are a part of VSO International, the world’s leading independent development organisation that works through volunteers to address poverty. VSO’s high-impact approach involves strengthening development programmes by providing the unique resource of skilled people. Since VSO began working in India in 1958, VSO India has partnered with over 100 NGOs – mostly focused on issues of health, education, livelihoods and governance, and placed over 200 international volunteers to build capacity of these partners and has placed 4,780 Indian volunteers and mobilised over 11,000 active citizens who have played an important role in creating awareness through educating approximately 320,000 poor and marginalised people on their rights.

As part of harnessing the potential, energy and commitment of young people, VSO India is currently calling in applications for the International Citizen Services (ICS) National Volunteers who will be a part of a dynamic team of 20 Volunteers from UK and India participating in development engagement in rural India.

For more information, click here

Apply here

World Food System Summer School, “Food Systems in Transition”

The ETH Zurich World Food System Center is pleased to announce the call for applications for this year’s World Food System Summer School, “Food Systems in Transition”, which will be held from June 25 - July 8, 2017 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The two-week intensive academic course will be hosted at the Sustainability Institute in Lynedoch Ecovillage, near Stellenbosch. The program spans the food system and includes lectures, workshops, case studies, field trips, and farm work together with faculty and experts from leading research institutes, the public, private, and not for profit sectors.

More details about the program and the application procedure can be found in the attached flyer and our website here:

http://www.worldfoodsystem.ethz.ch/education/summer-schools/upcoming.html

Applications must to be submitted online by Monday, February 6, 2017 at 8 AM CET.

Should you have any questions please contact Jonna Cohen (jcohen@ethz.ch).

Come and join us for this unique learning experience!

Jonna Cohen

Education Manager

ETH Zurich World Food System Center

Auf der Mauer 2 / ADM A4

8092 Zürich Switzerland

Email: jcohen@ethz.ch

www.worldfoodsystem.ethz.ch




World Food System Summer School, “Food Systems in Transition”,

June 25 - July 8, 2017, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

For more details, please visit: http://www.worldfoodsystem.ethz.ch/education/summer-schools/upcoming.html

Application deadline: Monday, February 6, 2017 at 8 AM CET.

For any questions and queries, please write directly to Jonna Cohen (jcohen@ethz.ch).

Best regards,
Udayan

Supreme Court orders audit of over three million charities

NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Supreme Court has directed the government to conduct an audit of over three million charities in the country, many of which have received millions of dollars of state funds, but have failed to show where the money was spent.The top court on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government for not having a regulatory mechanism in place to monitor grants to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and directed authorities to recover misspent funds and take criminal action against any fraudulent charities."It is unfortunate that most of the NGOs do not carry out the exercise of auditing," said the order given by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar."Those NGOs who did not file their balance sheets and misused the public funds would have to face action, including civil and criminal prosecution."The court, which was hearing a petition by lawyer Manohar Lal Sharma to seek proper monitoring of funds to charities, ordered the government to complete the auditing of all non-profit groups and submit its report by March 31.

Less than 10 percent of the 3.3 million charities operating in the country have submitted their financial accounts as per government requirements, according to 2015 data presented to the court by the Central Bureau of Investigation.These include NGOs which receive government funds for rural development as well as those who receive foreign donations.

Civil society organisations in India have increasingly come under government scrutiny in recent years, particularly since Modi's right-wing nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power almost three years ago.More than 10,000 charities have had their licenses to receive overseas donations cancelled or suspended since 2014, hampering their ability to work in areas ranging from health to the environment.Home Ministry officials say these groups have violated the Foreign Contribution Regulations Act (FCRA) by not disclosing donation details or by using foreign funds to engage in "anti-national" activities.

But many charities say the FCRA is an opaque law and preventing them accessing overseas funds is a move to quell government criticism.Last June, a group of U.N. experts said they were stunned by the way India was applying the law to stymie its critics, adding the FCRA was "overly broad" and activities deemed political or against the economic interest of the state were vague. (Reporting by Suchitra Mohanty. Writing by Nita Bhalla @nitabhalla Editing by Katie Nguyen. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit news.trust.org)

Source: http://www.firstpost.com/politics/supreme-court-orders-audit-of-over-three-million-charities-reuters-3199890.html

Soon NGOs could face criminal charges for misappropriating funds

The SC has ordered the Centre to audit 32 lakh NGOs.

After the Central government, the Supreme Court has shifted its attention to NGOs in India and asked the Centre to audit more than 32 lakh NGOs and voluntary organisations to check if they have misappropriated funds. The Central government cancelled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) license of more than 20,000 NGOs in 2016.

The Chief Justice JS Khehar-led bench was hearing a PIL filed by advocate Manoharlal Sharma who sought investigation into funds allocated to NGOs by Council for Advancement of People's Action & Rural Technology (CAPART), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Rural Development, two trusts run by Anna Hazare.

CJI Khekar said: "This is government money. Don't squander it. There must be a mechanism to deal with this." He also said that "It seems as if public funds were sanctioned for political reasons."

The apex court gave the Centre time till March 31 to conduct the audit and directed them to submit action taken report on April 5. The bench also directed the government to form a mechanism to accredit NGOs and to audit them regularly.

For the first time, NGOs could face criminal prosecution if they have embezzled public funds.

"You have to set the procedure right. If it hasn't been done in the past, then do it for the future. You cannot allow misuse of public funds in such a way," the bench told additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta.

"What have you been doing for so many years? Why haven't you taken action? You can't let public money go waste like this," the bench noted. The bench said that the government can take both civil and criminal recourse against NGOs found guilty.

The apex court expanded the ambit of the PIL and asked the CBI to find out how many NGOs had submitted certificates with agencies they are registered with. The CBI said that of 32 lakh NGOs, only 3 lakh filed audited accounts.

NGOs have been facing crackdown from the government in the past year. In December 2016, the Central government had cancelled licences of 20,000 NGOs for not filing their FCRA application.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.co.in/soon-ngos-could-face-criminal-charges-misappropriating-funds-711793

Supreme Court pulls up Centre for no mechanism to monitor NGO funds

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered Modi government to undertake the massive exercise of auditing over 30 lakh NGOs that have received government funds but failed to explain how it was spent.

The court also asked the government to recover these funds and take criminal action in cases in which it has been misspent. NGOs and voluntary organisations receive over Rs 9000 crore by way of grants from various ministries.

But only 3 lakh odd NGOs among 33 lakh across India file balance-sheets or expenses with the ministries. These include funds disbursed by Capart, an autonomous body, under the rural development ministry.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India J S Khehar also directed the Centre to put in place a mechanism to ensure timely audit and checks to prevent misuse of public funds. Under the current dispensation, they are only blacklisted. 

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/supreme-court-pulls-up-centre-for-no-mechanism-to-monitor-ngo-funds/articleshow/56439451.cms

SC-LD NGO 2

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said there were

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said there were broadly three categories -- contribution received by NGOs from abroad for which there are regulations, funds received from local bodies/societies/trusts for which there is no auditing and thirdly, these bodies collect money from local people for which also there are no regulations.

"When you yourself are saying there are no regulations, then why have you not come out with the mechanism. Till now, there is no mechanism. Let a mechanism come and thereafter amicus curiae and you (ASG) will assist. We will see what can be done and what progress has been made in terms of regulation," the bench said.

"When government fund is disbursed, why dont you see what has happened to your money? It is public money. How can you do this with public money," the court asked.

The apex court also took note of the fact that an Under Secretary rank officer has filed the affidavit and asked the ASG to ensure that officer of the rank of joint secretary or additional secretary files the affidavit.

Amicus Curiae Rakesh Dwivedi said CBI has filed a status report showing how many NGOs have not filed the audit report and how many of them have not filed utilisation certificates.

"Huge amounts running into thousands of crores are doled out to these societies. There has been a case that many of them, after getting the grant, do not come back and they are merely blacklisted", Dwivedi said.

He said around Rs 9,000 crore has been disbursed to NGOs, societies, voluntary organisations from 2002-03 to 2008-09.

"Union of India has disbursed Rs 4,756 crore. States have disbursed Rs 6,654 crore. Rs 950 crore on an average has been disbursed per year", the amicus said.

He referred to a report of Asian Center for Human Rights and said that several projects did not achieve the target and there was no pre-funding apprisal by Council for Advancement of Peoples Action and Rural Technology (CAPART). (More) PTI MNL ABA RKS AG ARC

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sc-ld-ngo-2/1/854200.html

SC: Audit govt money given to NGOs

New Delhi, Jan. 10 (Agencies): The Supreme Court on Tuesday grilled the government over its failure to work out a mechanism to monitor the public money that it gives to the 32 lakh NGOs, societies and voluntary organisations in the country.

A bench of Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and justices N.V. Ramana and D.Y. Chandrachud, upset that no regulatory mechanism has been worked out even six years after a public interest litigation was filed in the matter, pointed out that the government is doling out public money without any audit.

The court was told that the Union government and states have disbursed around Rs 9,000 crore to these societies in the period between 2002 and 2009, and that the government merely blacklists an NGO or non-governmental organisation if it does not come back with audited accounts.

The bench said “mere blacklisting” of these organisations would not suffice and civil and criminal action should be initiated for misappropriation of public money received by them from various government departments.

It directed the competent authority to come out with guidelines and rules for a regulatory mechanism by March end “under any circumstances”.

The bench noted that such action must be taken by the Centre and CAPART, which comes under the Ministry of Rural Development, which has been instrumental in granting the funds.

”We consider it appropriate to direct the Centre and CAPART to complete the exercise of auditing and submit the report by March 31, under all circumstances,” the bench said.

”There can be no doubt about the fact that the amount disbursed by CAPART/ other government departments is public money and must be accounted for,” it said, adding that so far, the only exercise or action carried out in case of non- submission of balance sheet/ returns is “merely blacklisting”.

In case of non-compliance of auditing and other rules, necessary civil and criminal action has to be initiated where public fund is received from CAPART or government departments and misappropriated, it said.

The apex court said that, on next date of hearing, April 5, it expected the Centre to place before it the guidelines and rules for accreditation of voluntary organisations and detailing the manner in which they shall maintain their accounts, conduct the audit, the process of recovery and methodology of recovery of the amount in case of misappropriation and criminal proceedings.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said there are three sources of funds for NGOs: donors abroad (for which there are regulations), from local bodies/ societies/ trusts (for which there is no auditing) and local people (for which also there are no regulations).

To this, the bench asked: ”When you yourself are saying there are no regulations, then why have you not come out with the mechanism.”

“Till now, there is no mechanism. Let a mechanism come and thereafter amicus curiae and you (ASG) will assist. We will see what can be done and what progress has been made in terms of regulation,” the bench said.

”When government fund is disbursed, why don't you see what has happened to your money? It is public money. How can you do this with public money,” the court asked.

Amicus curiae Rakesh Dwivedi said the Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a status report showing how many NGOs have not filed the audit report and how many of them have not filed utilisation certificates.

”Huge amounts running into thousands of crores are doled out to these societies. There has been a case that many of them, after getting the grant, do not come back and they are merely blacklisted”, Dwivedi said.

He said around Rs 9,000 crore has been disbursed to NGOs, societies, voluntary organisations from 2002-03 to 2008-09.

”Union of India has disbursed Rs 4,756 crore. States have disbursed Rs 6,654 crore... Rs 950 crore on an average has been disbursed per year”, the amicus curiae said.

He referred to a report of Asian Center for Human Rights and said that several projects did not achieve the target and there was no pre-funding appraisal by CAPART or the Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology (CAPART).

Source: https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170110/jsp/frontpage/story_129544.jsp#.WHcdItJ97IU

Supreme Court to hear plea seeking direction in NGO funding case

The CBI records filed in the Supreme Court in the case show that only 2,90,787 NGOs file annual financial statements of a total of 29,99,623 registered ones under the Societies Registration Act.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear the plea filed by apex court lawyer Manohar Lal Sharma seeking a direction in the NGO funding case. Earlier, noting that NGOs get “mind-boggling” funds and it has become a “major problem,” the apex court said that it will consider asking the Law Commission of India to bring an effective law to regulate the flow of money to a total 29.99 lakh NGOs functioning in the country.

The Bench, also comprising Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, asked senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi to assist the court in finding a way to deal with the issue and, if necessary, refer to the Law Commission. Advocate M.L. Sharma, the petitioner in the case, submitted that 80 per cent of the NGOs get foreign funds. He claimed that “retired government employees and politicians run these NGOs drawing on their influence.”

The CBI records filed in the Supreme Court in the case show that only 2,90,787 NGOs file annual financial statements of a total of 29,99,623 registered ones under the Societies Registration Act. In some States, the CBI said the laws do not even provide for the NGOs to be transparent about their financial dealings. In the Union Territories, of a total of 82,250 NGOs registered and functioning, only 50 file their returns.

Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/supreme-court-to-hear-plea-seeking-direction-in-ngo-funding-case-4467310/

SC directs Centre to take swift action against defaulting NGOs

NEW DELHI: In what came as a setback, Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday directed governments to go after defaulting NGOs and submit compliance report to it by March 31.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) J S Khehar pulled up Centre for not putting in place a regulatory mechanism to monitor the funds and their utilisation by NGOs, societies and voluntary organisations and said, "Government should initiate civil and criminal action against NGOs that have misappropriated public funds."

The court asks Government to detect and punish this NGOs which have taken public funds and not submitted utilisation certificates.

CBI informed the SC that there are nearly 33 lakh NGOs in India and of which only 3 lakh filed audited accounts with authorities.

The bench also asked Centre to frame rules and guidelines to accredit NGOs, audit them and take action if they allegedly misuse public funds.

During the hearing, CJI directed the Rural Development Secretary and Director of Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART), which comes under Rural Development Ministry and told them that the government will not file affidavits in court signed by an officer below Joint Secretary rank and observed, "It is seen that government file affidavit signed by under secretaries who do not know anything about the issue."

The bench also asked the officials to inform it whether CAG audit of NGOs post 2009 was carried out or not. The bench also asked whether General Financial Rules 2005 made by Ministry of Finance were complied with or not. The court was hearing a petition filed by advocate M L Sharma, seeking monitoring of funds given to NGOs and their utilisation by them.

Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/jan/10/sc-directs-centre-to-take-swift-action-against-defaulting-ngos-1558160.html

SC Directs Centre to Prosecute NGOs Failing to Explain Expenditure

New Delhi: Cracking the whip on over 33 lakh NGOs receiving government funds, Supreme Court of India has directed the Centre to prosecute NGOs which failed to explain how the funds were spent.

The apex court also directed the government to carry out an audit of all the NGOs getting government funds by March 31, 2017, and put in place a regulatory mechanism to monitor the funds given to these NGOs.

There are about 33 lakh NGOs which receive funds from the government and of this, only about 3 lakh NGOs are regular in submitting accounts to the parent ministry of their expenses -- rest are in default.

Top court's order seeks to target these defaulters. NGOs receive over Rs 9,000 crore by way of grants from various ministries.

The court has ordered the government to go beyond than "just regular blacklisting" of the defaulting NGOs and initiate recovery proceedings from the erring NGOs.

This order comes on a PIL that initially raised questions on social activist Anna Hazare-run trust in Maharashtra.

The PIL levelled allegations against Hazare and his associates that they had floated Hind Swaraj Trust in Ralegon Sidhi in 1995, with a capital of just Rs 500 and received Rs 45 lakh from the Centre in 1994-95, even before the trust was registered.

In 1995-96, the trust received another grant of Rs 65.85 lakh, this time from the state government.

But the top court expanded the scope of the petition and has now passed orders covering all NGOs getting government funds.

Source: http://www.news18.com/news/india/sc-directs-centre-to-prosecute-ngos-failing-to-explain-expenditure-1334058.html

SC to Govt: Make NGOs accountable for funds

A bench led by J S Khehar regretted that there was no regulatory mechanism to make NGOs answerable on utilising funds while the government pumped in public money.

SEEKING ACCOUNTABILITY of NGOs that receive funds from public exchequer, the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the central government to put in place a regulatory mechanism and resort to criminal prosecution of such organisations in cases of misappropriation.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India J S Khehar regretted that there was no regulatory mechanism to make NGOs answerable on utilising funds while the government pumped in public money.

“How are you not bothered about how they (NGOs) spend the money? After all it is public money and they must be made accountable. You cannot let it get squandered,” said the bench, seeking a comprehensive mechanism within three months to audit and scrutinise NGOs’ accounts.

It said that mere blacklisting the NGOs would not suffice but there was a need to include criminal action for misappropriation and swindling of funds disbursed to NGOs for certain purposes.

“The government has to regulate it. You have to know how they use this money? It is not just your money but it is public money… there can be no doubt that the amount disbursed to NGOs is public money and has to be accounted for,” said the court.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta agreed with the bench that a new regime should be put in place to regulate NGOs and sought some time to revert. The court, however, pointed out that provisions of CAG auditing and scrutiny under the General Financial Rule, 2005 were already operating in this area. And that the competent authority will now have to come out with guidelines and rules for a regulatory mechanism by March-end.

The bench noted that such action must be taken by the Centre and the Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART), a wing under the Ministry of Rural Development which has been instrumental in granting the funds.

“We consider it appropriate to direct the Centre and CAPART to complete the exercise of auditing and submit the report by March 31, under all circumstances,” the bench said.

In case of non-compliance of auditing and other rules, necessary civil and criminal action has to be initiated where public fund is received from CAPART or government departments and misappropriated, it said.

The court said on next date of hearing on April 5, it expected the Centre to place before it the guidelines and rules for accreditation of voluntary organisation and detailing the manner in which they shall maintain their accounts, conduct the audit, the process of recovery and methodology of recovery of the amount in case of misappropriation and criminal proceedings.

Pursue a career- Make a difference to Skill India

We are looking at hiring 10/12th/ or any 1st/2nd year college students who want to pursue a career immediately. The position we are looking for includes customer care executives / customer care associate in a reputed telecom company. Preference will be given to candidates from economically and socially challenged backgrounds.

Contact us asap at +914466860143/ 8668103388 (between 9AM-5PM) at the earliest.

- Jerry Jonathan/ Preethi Zipporah
(HR Department) 05/01/2017
Eastern Shepherd International

Website : esigroup.in

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Eastern-Shepherd-International

Address : No:806 Samson Towers, 8th Floor, Pantheon Road,
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Source - Thambos (Eastern Shepherd International)

WILLIAM J. CLINTON FELLOWSHIP FOR SERVICE IN INDIA

Dear Applicants,

We wish you a great start into 2017!

PROGRAM SNAPSHOT:

During an immersive, 10-month volunteer program (Sept. 2017-July 2018), young professionals have the opportunity to serve at development organizations and social enterprises across India. AIF Clinton Fellows support our partner organizations at a crucial moment of scalability through collaboration, skills-sharing, training, and capacity-building. Applicants must be U.S. or Indian citizens, or U.S. permanent residents. They must be between 21 and 34 years of age and have obtained their undergraduate degree by the start of the program on September 1, 2017.

Apply by January 16, 2017 (11:59pm PST).

We would also like to share some resources for your perusal.

What happens after you submit your application? Get an exclusive look.

Curious to hear from our current Fellows?

Meet Lakshmee and find out how mountain grains are related to caste.

Theater for social change? Check out Cal’s amazing journey.

From Manhattan to Madanapalle: how ex-New Yorker Sarala adapts to rural life.

How is it to work with crocodiles? Avan is ready to show you.

Looking forward to receiving you application,

AIF Fellowship Team