Discuss the role of NGOs in our society along with the Issues involved in their functioning.

India has made rapid progress in the socio-economic sphere in the last seven decades, however, it has not been uniform in nature. The resultant economic inequality has given the space to NGOs to address the related concerns and issues.

• NGOs help in empowering the marginalized sections. Environment, social injustice, sanitary and hygiene, child rights, human rights, orphanage, etc, are some of the areas which have been immensely benefited from the initiatives of NGOs. NGOs have the ability to take up the cause to the masses and make them aware of their rights, they connect the policies with the real beneficiaries, they even take the government programs and policies in the remote geographical areas and they also help in empowering the weaker section of the society.
• NGOs run on funds and donations given by big entities and companies. The mandatory corporate social responsibility has further enhanced the capability of NGOs to engage more in social issues.
• However, given the diversity of issues that prevails in society, it becomes challenging for NGOs to deal with them specifically.
• Given the transnational nature of NGOs, many times matters related to funding issues become politicized and nonauthoritative under FCRA.
• The unregulated channel of funds becomes a breeding ground of corruption which further supports illegal activities threatening national security.

Hence, a proper legal framework is required within which NGOs could easily receive large funds without their autonomy being compromised. The country needs to diversify its source of funds for NGOs under a regulatory channel so that the diverse issues can be addressed and the masses can be benefited.