NGOs have become a ‘racket’ and ‘mafia’: Jairam Ramesh

Ramesh met around 70-100 NGO representatives from Gujarat and many of them raised different issues related to environment,land etc.. concerning Gujarat. One of the representatives stated that the role of NGOs was being diluted in Gujarat.

Subsequently,replying to the issues raised by the representatives,Ramesh said that it was true that in last few years the role of NGOs has been decreased in the rural development programmes. “It is true that in last few years,the role of NGOs in the rural development programmes has decreased. There are many reasons for it,” said Ramesh.

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“One reason is that our experience with NGOs,in some states,has not been good,” he added.

“In different states,we have seen that NGOs have become a racket. And this racket has formed because politicians and NGOs have developed a close association,” Ramesh said while adding that most of the NGOs which have come into existence are either in the name of one or the other politician’s wife,son,daughter or some relative. “It has become a mafia,” he added.

Ramesh,though,was quick to say that not all the NGOs were like that. “There are some states like Maharashtra,Gujarat…where some NGOs are doing good work even today,” he said.

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Ramesh also stated that it was the strategy of the Government to now give lesser importance to NGOs than they used to get earlier and that this was being done deliberately. Elaborating further,he said that it was important to work with the elected institutions like State Governments and Gram Panchayats. He added that NGOs would be working in those places where these (elected) institutions were less.

Ramesh also indicated to the audience that he was saying this despite the fact that he enjoyed a pro-NGO image.

The programme was attended by leading activists of Gujarat that include Indukumar Jani,Chunibhai Vaidhya,Dr Kanu Kalsaria,Mahesh Pandya,Lalji Desai,Sagar Rabari,Persis Jinwala, Harinesh Pandya,Pravin Mishra,Harinesh Pandya. Vice Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith – Sudarshan Iyengar,former Finance Minister of Gujarat – Sanat Mehta,Gujarat Congress president – Arjun Modhwadia,senior Congress leader – Deepak Babaria,Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi were also present on the occasion.

Parimal Dabhi