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| Table of Content |
| Contribution of NGOs in Uttar Pradesh Issues and Challenges of NGOs in UP Impact Assessment (Qualitative & Quantitative) Current Affairs Linkages |
Trend: Shift from “Charity-based” models to “Strategic Partnerships” with the State Government (PPP Model) in Health & Education.
A. Role in Service Delivery (The “Last Mile” Connect)
- Education:
- NIPUN Bharat Mission: NGOs acting as “Implementation Partners” for foundational literacy (FLN) in rural districts (e.g., Room to Read in varying capacities).
- Operation Kayakalp: Adopting government schools for infrastructure upgradation (Smart Classes, WASH facilities) under CSR initiatives.
- Health & Nutrition:
- TB Mukt Bharat: Role of NGOs as Ni-Kshay Mitras adopting TB patients for nutritional support.
- Vector Borne Diseases: Community mobilization during the Dastak Abhiyan (JE/AES) in Purvanchal.
- Livelihood & Skilling:
- ODOP Integration: NGOs training artisans in GI-tagged clusters (e.g., Chikankari in Lucknow, Terracotta in Gorakhpur) to link them with e-commerce.
- SHG Formation: Collaborating with UPSRLM (State Rural Livelihood Mission) to form women Self Help Groups (Lakhpati Didi initiative).
B. Role in Advocacy & Rights
- Social Audit: Conducting social audits of MNREGA and PMAY schemes to ensure transparency.
- Legal Aid: Providing support to victims of domestic violence (Mission Shakti Phase 5) and human trafficking (border districts of Nepal).
Trend: “Regulatory Tightening” and “Credibility Crisis.”
A. Regulatory & Legal Challenges
- FCRA Cancellations: Strict scrutiny by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) leading to the cancellation of licenses for several UP-based NGOs due to “misutilization of foreign funds.”
- Registration Hurdles: Delays in renewal under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (now set for reform).
B. Operational & Structural Issues
- “Briefcase NGOs”: Proliferation of fake/defunct NGOs exists only on paper to siphon off government grants (blacklisted by the Social Welfare Dept).
- Regional Imbalance: High concentration of NGOs in urban hubs (Lucknow, Noida, Varanasi) vs. scarcity in backward districts (Shravasti, Balrampur).
- Funding Crunch: Over-reliance on government grants; lack of independent corporate fundraising capabilities.
A. Positive Impact
- Disaster Management: Critical role of NGOs (like Sphere India) in flood relief operations in the Terai belt and heatwave mitigation in Bundelkhand.
- Inclusive Growth: Mainstreaming the Musahar and Vantangiya communities in Eastern UP through education and housing advocacy.
B. Negative Impact (concerns)
- Conversion Activities: Allegations against certain NGOs involved in unlawful religious conversions, leading to strict monitoring under the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act.
- Developmental Hurdles: Some NGOs accused of stalling infrastructure projects (Expressways/Mining) under the guise of environmental activism without scientific basis.
A. New Legislative Framework (The Big Reform)
- New Society Registration Law (Proposed 2025): The UP Government announced plans to replace the colonial Societies Registration Act, 1860 with a new, modern state law.
- Objective: To weed out “shell” NGOs, ensure transparent auditing, and mandatory annual activity mapping on the NGO Darpan portal.
B. Strategic Collaborations
- SBI Foundation RFP (Oct 2025): A major CSR initiative targeting out-of-school girls (6-14 years) in UP for Foundational Literacy (FLN), inviting NGO partners.
- Youth Co:Lab 2024-25: UNDP and Atal Innovation Mission recognized youth-led social startups/NGOs in UP working on disability inclusion and assistive technology.
- Disaster Resilience MOU: The UP State Disaster Management Authority (UPSDMA) renewed collaborations with NGO networks (IAG-UP) to strengthen community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR).
C. Crackdown & Compliance
- Blacklisting: In 2024-25, the UP Social Welfare Department blacklisted several NGOs for failing to run government-funded old-age homes and schools (SRESHTA scheme) as per norms.
- Digital Monitoring: Mandatory geo-tagging of assets created by NGOs using government funds to prevent duplication.
