Is Human Development a Charity ? – the evolving place for beneficiaries in the development process

What do we mean by a ‘NGO’? What are the operational characteristics of a NGO ? If NGO’s deal with the ‘development of people’ then what do they mean by ‘development’?
According to Mr. Ajit Mani, fund-raiser for NGOs, the term NGO is often used interchangeably with the terms voluntary organization (VO), private voluntary organization (PVO in the U.S.), non-profit organization (NPO.), and less frequently, not-for-profit organization (NFPO), private development organization (PDO), and the U.N. term, non-state actor (NSA). Strictly speaking, a development/relief organization and a voluntary organization are not identical although they share superficial similarities in terms of aims and approaches. The prime criterion is if it is engaged in development or voluntary / charity work. In India, we now have a distinction between "Charity" or "Welfare" projects as opposed to "Development" projects. In the "Charity/Welfare" category, we would for example, include projects working with disability, orphans, and opposing cruelty to animals. In the "Development" category are the "tough" issues dealing with, for example, marginalized groups, afforestation and human rights. Human Resources Development has come largely from the social enquiries made by NGO's engaged in development work.

This differentiation between charity and development is a vital lesson for Human Resources Development. Human Resources Development is primarily concerned with development of people and not merely welfare or charity towards employees. Several people assume that Human Resources Development stands for Human Relations Development, unaware that the Human Relations school of thought is merely one school of thought within the Human Resources Development gamut. The workplace is an institution where people partly fulfill themselves by performance and accomplishment. The Human Resources Development department merely facilitates this creative process.

Motivation for Development in an NGO :

“NGO work in India has diverse ideological origins and underpinnings. We need to have atleast a basic understanding of these backgrounds, if we are to understand the design strategies for the future of these NGOs, confronted by rapidly changing social, political and economic environments. NGOs in modern India have traditions that can be traced back to the ideologies of the Ramakrishna Mission, Mahatma Gandhi, Sarvodaya, Jesuit Missions and even Marxism” writes Ajit Mani.

It is these ideologies often decided by the founder of the NGO that keeps the NGO committed to development. 'At the professional office, one has to develop themselves, else they lose out in the race. But what pressure does an NGO have to go through unlike for-profit organisations ?. They only preach ! ' one may say. NGO's too are placed on a sticky wicket when it comes to pitching for the cause of development. What are the issues they have to face ffrom their masters ?...next page

What are the business themes faced in the NGO work?
Development vs Charity – the evolving place for beneficiaries in the development process
Motivation for Development in an NGO
Funding Fundas and Ideological Agendas
Human Development – an input/output perspective
Contribution of NGO work to Human Resources Development
What should be the focus of Human Resources Development?
Shifting the paradigm of Human Resources Development
Company vs. Community