From Editor’s Desk,

SOS: Save Our Sector

The distress signal from the ships caught in turbulence is known as SOS, and this year the monsoon session of Indian Parliament created turbulence for the voluntary sector in India. Not only the new Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Bill was passed after a brief debate by both houses of the Parliament, the proposed Direct Taxes Code was also introduced. Both of these regulations are contradictory to the assurances given by the same government in “National Policy on the Voluntary Sector”. In fact, this is a huge leap taken backward from the recommendations of second Administrative Reform Commission report.

Interestingly, when the telecommunication scam rocked the house in winter session, it was an eye opener not only for the voluntary sector, but also for the whole country as well. The tapes and telephonic conversations leaked in the media have reminded us once again how policies are framed in this country with the nexus between media, power fixers, politicians and the corporate. The stories are framed and planted by reputed journalists to benefit their ‘clients’, whereas we still starve for space in mainstream media to highlight social causes. It is on the coffee tables of power elite that the policies are made, and still we dream of changing them with evidence based advocacy.

While witnessing this period of scam-age, I am not surprised to see more stringent FCRA on one side, and more liberal FEMA or DTC tilting towards a particular group or section of the society. We can now understand why we have Ministry of Corporate Affairs and not even a department for voluntary development organizations in the entire machinery of government. It may be the reason why in every consultation the babus and corporate bosses meet like old lost friends and we are seen as aliens from the forbidden land. Interestingly, when this group is tired of using words like shares, profits, takeovers, investments, etc in their conversations, they have also started using equitable growth, holistic development, as mouth fresheners. Almost every month we have award ceremonies sponsored by the corporate and hosted by media for outstanding personalities from their own sectors. The relationship between the corporate, media and the government is a global phenomenon and this is the reason why we have members of corporate and the media in the official delegations of head of the government when they visit any other country. Somehow, it is believed by this group that nations can be built only by them and civil society has no role to play.

I am sure that things will change in near future and these developments can only reinforce our commitment to struggle for the desired world of equity and justice.

Although, today there is a huge gap between the desired world and the actual world where we operate, our perseverance will definitely show result.

To facilitate initiatives in this direction, VANI has been conducting consultations with a number of voluntary organizations throughout the country to solicit their inputs on ways forward. We concluded that our primary role is to protect and nurture the space and the right to associate. We need to unite regardless of our thematic missions, inform each other about the possible options and develop a safety net of information exchange and mutual learning. More than ever before, we need to share the infrastructure, human and financial resources so that we can collectively and individually achieve our goals. Further, we need to educate the neo-rich section of our society which is undoubtedly vocal but is currently mesmerized by the glamour of visible and ornamental signs of development. We must now be more vocal about the achievements and challenges of the voluntary sector with media, with policy makers and also with other stakeholders

I am sure that you will not only read this note, but also send me your response on the same.

Harsh Jaitli, CEO,
Voluntary Action Network India
New Delhi

VANI INITIATIVES @ November 2010

Visit

14th–16th November :Berlin to attend the conference on Devising Joint Strategies

Visit by Harsh Jaitli, the CEO of VANI to Berlin to attend the conference on Devising Joint Strategies towards the Full Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals" organized by Berlin Civil Society.

Events

28th November, 2010 : Challenges faced by the Voluntary Sector at Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

The workshop was centered on the theme ‘Revised FCRA and Direct Tax Laws - Understanding the New Challenges and Problems for the Voluntary Sector’. The workshop was jointly organized by VANI and Confederation of Voluntary Associations (COVA), Hyderabad. More...

30th November, 2010 : Strategic Review of Uttar Pradesh Voluntary Action Network

Harsh Jaitli, CEO of VANI was part of the strategic review of UPVAN held on November 30.

24th and 25th November, 2010: Regional workshop on good governance at Guwahati, Assam

VANI, in collaboration with Centre for Rural Development, organized a two-day regional workshop in Guwahati on Good Governance. More than 40 participants from across the north-eastern states took part in the consultation. The principle aim of this meeting was to deliberate on the strategies to promote the practices of good governance in the voluntary sector, particularly, in the north – east states. Participants shared that the basic problem faced by the voluntary sector in the north-eastern states is poor communication system. This is also coupled with multi-lingual dynamics of these states.

It was decided that a hub for the voluntary sector would be created in North East, which would facilitate exchange of information and opinions. Besides this, they will also follow the CSO toolkit which was distributed among all the participants to follow the good governance framework. More...

10th-11th November, 2010 : Structured Dialogue on Civil Society and Local Authorities involvement in EC cooperation

Harsh Jaitli, CEO of VANI attended the consultation on the Structured Dialogue organized by Europian Commission. The Structured Dialogue aimed at promoting a more effective partnership for development, in the frame of the Aid Effectiveness Agenda. Representatives of civil society and local authorities were invited, together with Members of the European Parliament, Delegates from EU Member States and EU Delegations

9th November, 2010 : Preparatory Meeting of Civil Society for the Regional Seminar of the Structured Dialogue

It was organized by VANI in collaboration with CONCORD as a prelude to the Regional Seminar on the Structured Dialogue on “Civil Society and Local Authorities Involvement in European Commission cooperation". The objective of this meeting was to allow all civil society participants (from Europe and Asia) to have the same level of understanding of the issues that would be addressed during the regional seminar, and also to coordinate in advance, as much as possible, civil society’s interventions during the seminar.

7th-8th November, 2010 : Asian Regional Meeting on National Platforms of Voluntary Sector, New Delhi

A meeting of national platforms of NGOs (NPF) in Asia was held in News Delhi. It was attended by representatives from India, Indonesia, Japan, Maldives, Nepal and the Philippines. Most of these organizations are members of the International Forum of National NGOs Platforms (FIP). The IFP Secretariat / Coordination SUD and CONCORD were invited to attend this meeting. More...

Publications

Annual Report of VANI 2009-2010 has been published

The annual report which comprises of the major initiatives of VANI in the financial year 2009- 2010 has been published both in English and Hindi. The report is uploaded in our website for our members to view online and it can also be availed by post on request.

Read the annual report here>>>

Petition to the Standing Committee on “Direct Taxes Code Bill, 2010”:

An appeal was sent to the chairperson of the Committee on Finance, Shri Yashwant Sinha, citing the concerns of the Direct Taxes Code Bill 2010 from the perspective of voluntary sector. Besides sending the memorandum, an appointment before the committee to voice the concerns of the voluntary sector was also sought.

Read the complete petition here>>>

Coming up…..

Visit

• 13th-14th December : Visit by the CEO of VANI to CODE-NGO in NPC- Asia, Philippines, with an objective to strengthen networking of NGOs at South Asia level.
  
  

Study

• Analysis and advocacy campaign for fiscal reform for voluntary sector in India: This study is an effort from VANI to take stock of the recent fiscal policies of India in relation to its implications to the voluntary sector. The overall objective of this exercise is to develop a sound advocacy tool to present policy recommendations to the concerned stakeholders.
  
  
• Philanthropy at New Age : A qualitative study to explore how the concept of philanthropy is perceived today. The study, which will take the perspectives from various leading contributors in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility, will try to identify the strategies to boost further initiatives in this line.

News of the month

No service tax on Grants / Donations received by charitable organizations for training, etc.

Revenue Dept. has clarified that no service tax is applicable on grants / donations received by charitable organizations for the purposes of training, as long as it can be established that there is no direct relationship between the recipient of training and the donor.

A circular has been issued by the department in this regard.

Copy of the circular has been posted on the site http://www.srr-foundation.org/news/STcircular.pdf

Release of Fund to the Voluntary Organizations Engaged in the Field of Law

The Official Languages Wing of the Legislative Department has a scheme for giving financial assistance to the Voluntary Organisations engaged in the use of Indian Languages in the field of Law. In this connection, detailed advertisements were made in all the leading newspapers dated 29th September, 2010 and 30th September, 2010 inviting applications from eligible Voluntary Organisations for award of financial assistance for the financial year 2010-11.

It has been decided to extend the time limit for receipt of applications from eligible Voluntary Organizations up to 31st December, 2010. The application form and details of the Scheme are available on Ministry’s website: www.lawmin.nic.in/olwing. 

Read more >>> http://www.lawmin.nic.in/olwing/

Finance Ministry seeks inputs on the Direct Taxes Code 2010

The finance ministry has called for suggestions for changes in the duty structure, rates and broadening of tax base on both the direct and indirect tax fronts and has sought economic justification for the suggestions.

The suggestions can be directly sent to the ministry.

The Report of the Taskforce from CAPART has been released

A taskforce was constituted by the Planning Commission of India to examine the issues related to the evolution of an independent, national level, self-regulatory agency for the voluntary sector, and to develop accreditation methodologies for voluntary organizations. The taskforce has published its report and VANI is currently in the process of analyzing the same with the inputs from its stakeholders.

Read the complete report here >>>

Forthcoming Publications from VANI

A Handbook on Good Governance : By and large, boards of voluntary organizations play a significant role in shaping its destiny. A solid and progressive relationship between the board and the organization defines and moulds its journey towards the mission and vision. However, one needs to bear in mind that these relationships are complex and fairly intricate in nature. Therefore, a successful handling of this relationship is important for the voluntary organization to prosper and march ahead.

A Handbook on Good Governance is an attempt from VANI to provide the voluntary organizations with some useful and effective measures that they can take up to enhance the engagement of board in their course of action. Prepared in a very reader-friendly format, this will be a useful resource for us to measure the effectiveness against some concrete examples thereby ensuring open channels of communication of and an effective board.  

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