Social Welfare Agencies
State is called upon to play an increasing
role in providing services for the welfare of
the people.
The Central Government, the various State
Governments and local self-governing
bodies, each in its own sphere, have to
ensure that they have at least the minimum
administrative machinery for dealing with
social “problems
• The entry of state in the field of social welfare is
marked by the establishment of Social Welfare
Department and Social Welfare Advisory Board.
• These are the two agencies through which Social
Welfare Administration is carried out in the
country. They come under the Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment.
• Social Welfare Department is directly involved in
providing services for various vulnerable groups.
But the coverage of government services is very
limited.
• This gap is filled up by the services given by the
NGOs. The administrative authority of the
government and non – government sector are the
Social Welfare Department and Social Welfare
Advisory Board.
Social Welfare Department:
• The Department of Social Welfare was created at
the centre in 1964.
• Subsequently Social Welfare Department was
established in all states as well.
• The purpose of Social Welfare Department is to
chalk out various welfare schemes and programmes
for the under privileged sections in the society
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL WELFARE
1. Secretariat- secretary of social welfare,
additional secretary, under secretary, section
officers and staff.
2. Directorate- Director, Asst. directors, Sr.
superintendent, Jr. superintendent and other
staff
3. District Social Welfare Office- District Social
Welfare Officer, district probation officer and
programme officer
4. Block level- development officers
5. Panchayat level- supervisors
6. Ward- anganwadi workers.
NGO- Non Governmental Organisation
Types and Models of NGO’S
1. NGO types by orientation :
• Charitable Orientation often involves a top-
down paternalistic effort with little participation
by the “beneficiaries”. It includes NGOs with
activities directed toward meeting the needs of
the poor -distribution of food, clothing or
medicine; provision of housing, transport,
schools etc. Such NGOs may also undertake relief
activities during a natural or man-made disaster.
• Service Orientation includes NGOs with
activities such as the provision of health,
family planning or education services in
which the programme is designed by the
NGO and people are expected to participate
in its implementation and in receiving the
service.
• Participatory Orientation is characterized by
self-help projects where local people are
involved particularly in the implementation
of a project by contributing cash, tools, land,
materials, labour etc.
• Empowering Orientation is where the aim is to
help poor people develop a clearer understanding
of the social, political and economic factors
affecting their lives, and to strengthen their
awareness of their own potential power to control
their lives. there is maximum involvement of the
people with NGOs acting as facilitators.
2. NGO Types by level of operation
• Community-based Organizations (CBOs) arise out
of people’s own initiatives. These can include sports
clubs, women’s organizations, and neighbourhood
organizations, religious or educational
organizations.
Some are devoted to rising the consciousness of the
urban poor or helping them to understand their rights
in gaining access to needed services while others are
involved in providing such services.
• Citywide Organizations include organizations such
as the Rotary or lion’s Club, chambers of commerce
and industry, coalitions of business, ethnic or
educational groups and associations of community
organizations. Some exist for other purposes, and
become involved in helping the poor as one of
many activities, while others are created for the
specific purpose of helping the poor
• National NGOs include organizations such as the
Red Cross, YMCAs/ YWCAs, professional
organizations etc. Some of these have state and city
branches and assist local NGOs.
• International NGOs range from secular agencies
such as Redda BArna and Save the Children
organizations, OXFAM, CARE, Ford and Rockefeller
Foundations to religiously motivated groups. Their
activities vary from mainly funding local NGOs,
institutions and projects, to implementing the
projects themselves. Some examples of
international NGOs are the UNICEF, Amnesty
International.
ROLE OF NGO’S IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Every NGO has, as its basic structure, the components of vision, mission,
objectives, strategies and activities. The role of NGOs in aiding welfare
has become imperative. The role of an NGO is to compliment the
government in its bid to bring about welfare in the society.
Some of the most important roles that NGOs perform include
• developing infrastructure such as schools, toilets especially in rural
areas;
• facilitating communication between the governments, target
populations and the funding agencies.;
• provides technical assistance or training required to work at the
grassroots level;
• carries out research and surveys to monitor and examine different
aspects related to the target populations;
• and most importantly, it advocates for and with the poor and the
vulnerable i.e., its target groups.
In a globalizing world, the role and importance
of NGOs has also increased manifold. There are
a large number of NGOs that are working in
diverse areas like women and child
development, education, welfare for the poor,
disabled, marginalized, displaced, old, sick, and
environment protection in our country. Let us
now discuss the work being done by some
voluntary organizations in our country to
promote welfare and development.
