Peace Networks/SAARC         

 
 
 
 
 

2nd South Asian Conference: Current Challenges for Voluntary Action, 27th - 29th July 2001, Hyderabad, A.P. India

Use of Information Technology by Youth Leaders towards Poverty Alleviation and Counselling: Report of Workshop I

The year 2001, having been declared as the “International Year of volunteering”, this workshop dealt with the role of the youth in society, with special emphasis on the INFOYOUTH programme of UNESCO. Some of the important views that emerged during the discussion are listed below:

  1. It is necessary to organize computer-training activities for under privileged youth in order to improve their access to information.
  2. Through the means of easy communication, voluntary activities and welfare programmes can be enlarged and made efficient. However, it was voiced that Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) could not be held responsible to solve all problems of poverty and, especially all problems concerning the youth.
  3. In accordance with the other objectives of INFOYOUTH, it was agreed that ICT could serve as an efficient tool for communication in:
    1. Sharing of information on youth
    2. Improving awareness & understanding of the problems of youth from different societies
    3. Facilitating the design of national & international policies & programmes for youth
    4. ICT could also serve as a means to counsel youth on various matters;
      Most importantly, it was felt that ICT could serve as a means to introduce voluntary developmental programmes.
  4. The question was raised as to whether the youth is being prepared to have the right mindset to use ICT with a sense of responsibility in the face of the onslaught of free access to any kind of information - true or otherwise.
  5. Some of the participants felt that if the information available through ICT is not regularly updated, then it might lose its credibility.
  6. It was felt that, at the grassroots level, it was essential to impart computer training to youth leaders and that NGOs must make an effort towards facilitating this process in places and areas in which they operate.
  7. Finally, it was also felt that there should be a formation of youth force at various levels, local and national, which would take an active volunteering part in nation building.

Proposals and Recommendations:

  1. It was proposed during the workshop that a bulletin, along the lines of the Asia-Pacific Link bulletin published earlier by IFHD, be revived, in order that NGOs remain better informed about each other's activities. A survey was conducted among the participants in which all of them agreed that such a newsletter be published and that they would subscribe to it.
  2. It was proposed that a database on youth information services in South Asia be created. However, due to paucity of time, the modalities couldn't be worked out. We hope to share more opinions of the delegates on the subject through correspondence. However, the participants were informed about the existence of considerable expertise on this subject within the INFOYOUTH programme.
  3. There is an urgent need for the volunteering base in some countries like India in the region to be enlarged. The youth from schools, colleges and society in general should be given an experience of volunteering through work camps in order to take up social work. It is recognised that Nepalese and Bangladesh NGOs have considerable expertise in the matter and that they should take the lead to organise some work camps and train NGOs in other countries.
  4. ICT initiatives should be country specific. For example, a welfare programme in Bangladesh that is mainly IT oriented won't have much meaning as the IT penetration in that country is negligible.
  5. Organisations should arrange to offer counselling to youth. It could be offered in the areas of career guidance, personality development, self-employment opportunities and on personal issues like psychological problems and on AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD).
  6. For those countries where it is feasible, counselling could be offered online, through
    • chat rooms, though this is a rather complicated option
    • setting up an e-mail account to which people can send their queries, and
    • face to face interaction.
    (Presented by Dr. Chhalamayi Reddy and Mr. Feroz Hassan)

NGOs and Business Firms: New Partnerships in Civil Society: Report of Workshop II
      This workshop was held keeping in mind the shift of emphasis that is taking place in the nature of the region's economy - from the public to the private sector. NGOs doing social work cannot depend on government grants alone, as there are several problems involved, like the insensitiveness of the bureaucracy, corruption and red-tapism. Another source of financing social work is in cooperation with the private firms. It now becomes possible to involve business enterprises in welfare activities on a large scale. Further, what is new in this concept of partnership is that a third sector of economy, called Social Economy could be developed for the benefit of all. However, it became evident during the course of discussions that this concept is quite new for the region and the NGOs present need some interaction to deepen its understanding. It is observed by one participant that, in fact, in the old village communities all socially useful activities are carried out by various members of the community, while at the same time making a living out of it. He opines that this new concept brings back this old practice in a new context.

Following are the points that were raised during the discussion:

  1. The business firms of today are very conscious of how they are perceived by the community, their image, and would therefore go a considerable distance to project themselves as socially responsible.
  2. Large business houses, like the Tatas and the Birlas, have long since taken up welfare programmes on their own. However, it may not be possible for the small and medium size firms to take up welfare activities by themselves. This is where the NGOs can provide them with a platform.
  3. Some sections consider the profit-making firms as anti-poor and thus become blind to the fact that these very firms are contributing to economic growth and for jobs.
  4. Legislation with regards to the NGO-Business firms partnership is to be avoided, as it is likely to meet the same fate as the rule for earmarking a percentage of a company's profits for research and development and for charitable purposes. It may reduce the whole concept to a perfunctory nature.
  5. Another negative possibility of such a concept is that the NGOs may become obliged to promote a certain firm's product, as some sort of payback for the latter's assistance.
  6. Finally, it is the NGOs that can expect to improve themselves a lot through such a partnership, as the expertise of the business houses could prompt them to take up income generating projects and improve their managerial efficiency.

Recommendations:

  1. By encouraging active participation by the business sector, we should work towards the shaping of a 'Social Economy' - an economy that is not controlled by either a bureaucratic public sector or by materialistic entrepreneurs but where the profits made could be used for the good of the society by ploughing back the same into social welfare projects.
  2. Specific spiritual and religious inclinations of some entrepreneurs can be appealed to when seeking assistance. For example, Jain businessmen are likely to be interested in a project for animal welfare.
  3. NGOs should realise that business firms making legitimate profits is not an evil, after paying taxes, caring for the workers and supplying the right product to the consumer. Employment and national wealth is created for the good of all.
  4. The following triangular cooperation is encouraged between them: There are a number of areas where NGOs can learn managerial efficiency, good accounting, obtain financial wherewithal, resources to expand their activities, secure employment for fragile sections of the society, arrange apprenticeship, training in skills and help to meet the needs of many weaker sections of the society. Similarly, the private firms can obtain a wider market for their products, scope for new products, added purchasing capacity and new consumers because of the work of the NGOs. In addition to mutual stimulation and enhancing the capacity of each other to act in their respective fields, together they can also jointly undertake economic activities and contribute towards the social economy.
  5. This report will be communicated to the conference being held in Nice, France by the AIPEO (Association Internationale Pour le Partenariat entre ONG-Enterprises) in February 2002.
    (Presented by Mr. B. Someswara Rao and Mr.R. Parameswaran)

Flat Culture: New Opportunities for Creating Urban Communities of Sharing and Caring: Report of Workshop III
The focus of this workshop was to figure out the modalities of living in apartments, which have brought together people from diverse backgrounds into each other's neighbourhood. Flat culture will be a way of life in future in urban areas and it is our task to see that it evolves in a harmonious and positive way. Following are the points that were raised during the workshop.

  1. The concept of living in flats presents a new challenge to the individuals and families, such as, sharing of resources and common space.
  2. Values of sharing and caring become paramount in day-to-day dealings. The circumstances of living compel members to unite in the face of difficulties and find solutions that are in the common interest.
  3. The opportunity for cultural sharing that such a set-up provides could go a long way in bringing about communal harmony.
  4. Provision of facilities like a sufficient parking lot, proper security, crèche and recreational facilities, along with collective decision making are the features of a self-sufficient community.

Recommendations:

  1. Wide-spread awareness is to be created among the flat dwellers that living in flats could be positively turned into an art of living together and as a safe and cooperative way of life. The concept of Flat Culture is to be widely publicised.
  2. Further research is also needed on this concept in cooperation with social scientists, behavioural psychologists and urbanists.
  3. To promote a sense of community, regular cultural and sporting activities can be held among the flat dwellers. Collective celebration of national and religious festivals and the birthdays of young children in the building are some examples of such events. Planting of trees or plants in the name of each of the child in the building would also create a sense of belongingness among the people living there.
  4. Spiritual organisations can be invited to conceive programmes that will promote the values of living together among the apartment dwellers.
  5. Common counselling sessions could be arranged for groups of women living in these buildings on how to use natural and scarce resources like electricity, gas, water, oils, milk as well as ensuring correct weights and measures of things they purchase from outside. This exercise can convincingly demonstrate that it is possible to economise and save with correct consumer awareness.
  6. A federation or a confederation of apartment-associations can be formed to discuss the common issues of people residing in a particular area and to share each other's experience.
    (Presented by Mr. K.R. Patankar and Mr.V.V. Raghava Rao)

Good Governance - Need of the Hour in Developing Democracies: Report of Workshop IV
Following are the issues that were discussed during the workshop:
It was felt that the masses were not motivated enough to actively participate in the democratic functioning of the political institutions in India. As such, NGOs should strive to rectify the situation by conducting programmes to make the people better acquainted with the system.
The bureaucrats and politicians must be exhorted to minimise the burden on public exchequer by reducing their unnecessary expenditures and inefficient management of public affairs.
NGOs should inculcate the principles of good governance at the grassroots level starting from the local governments. This is only possible when there is effective decentralisation of power.
Organisations should strive to bring in transparency in the working of the system. In this regard, we must ensure that the public gets the right to obtain information on all activities by the public administration.
The youth and the media could be involved to propagate the concept of decentralised governance.
A nation-wide campaign followed by concrete activities is needed to fight the rampant corruption effectively and the role of active NGOs and motivated individuals is highlighted as indispensable in such a popular movement.

Recommendations:

  1. Each organisation can initiate small reforms in their geographical area of operation. Activities by groups of concerned citizens, like reviewing the voters' lists and ensuring the meters to be tamper-proof in the petrol bunks/auto rickshaws were suggested by some delegates. The Department of Weights and Measures can be involved in this endeavour.
  2. NGOs should be in constant touch with the consumer forums and bring its functioning to the notice of the public.
  3. Development of popular movements like Lok Satta in Andhra Pradesh in other states and countries is found desirable.
    (Presented by Mr. Vasist Bhargava and M/s Sowgandhi