THE IMPORTANCE OF NGOs

Considering what we said in the previous articles, it results clear that for trying to defeat totally the child marriage phenomenon is necessary a joined action among international organizations, like for example United Nations or UNICEF, national governments and finally grassroots local organization, such as the NGO.

Firstly, it is better clarify what exctaly is an NGO.

Non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, were first called such in Article 71 in the Charter of the newly formed United Nations in 1945.

There is not a fixed or formal definition for them, but  they are easily defined as nonprofit entities independent of governmental influence. 

For getting the point, it is useful to report the definition of NGO, provided by the World Bank: “"The diversity of NGOs strains any simple definition. They include many groups and institutions that are entirely or largely independent of government and that have primarily humanitarian or cooperative rather than commercial objectives. They are private agencies in industrial countries that support international development; indeginous groups organized regionally or nationally; and member-groups in villages. NGOs include charitable and religious associations that mobilize private funds for development, distribute food and family planning services and promote community organization. They also include independent cooperatives, community associations, water-user societies, women's groups and pastoral associations. Citizen Groups that raise awareness and influence policy are also NGOs".

Then, it is possibile to briefly sum up that NGO activities include, but are not limited to, environmental, social, advocacy and human rights work. They can work to promote social or political changes on a broad scale or very locally. As a matter of fact, NGOs play a critical role in developing society, improving communities, and promoting citizen participation.

Secondly, we are going to examine the currently situation of NGOs in India.

Since 1947 (year of the Indipendence), India has become an independent democratic Country and has started her own growth itinerary at political, economic and social level. As a developing country, nowadays India is facing with a wide amount of challenges. Moreover, India has made rapid progress in the socio-economic sphere. In fact, millions of citizens have been brought out of poverty, life expectancy has shot up, literacy rate has almost tripled and people have better access to healthcare services. However, as much millions are still bereft of a decent life: even today, they must struggle to get basics such as health, shelter, education and nutritious food. So, the benefits of India’s economic progress have not been uniform in nature and there is rampant economic inequality.

Having said that, the NGOs’importance is blatant. Their main aim is to fill up the gaps left by the government by improving the lives of the most marginalized communities, undertaking a variety of activities and projects.

According to a survey of Save the Children, the following are the common causes of NGOs operating in India: child rights; poverty; social injustice; environment conservation; human rights; women empowerment; care of elderly people; wildlife conservation; animal rights; sanitation and hygiene; humanitarian relief, health and nutrition; literacy and education; refugee crisis and last but not least disease control. Furthermore, NGOs also promote massive campaigning activities to generate awareness on these issues.

This is where HEEALS comes into the picture.

HEEALS is a grassroots NGO based in Gurgaon, with the mandate of empowering local and rural communities to become sustainable in Health, Education, Environment and Livelihood Society sectors.

Younger and women are the major victims of social-economic issues, suffering health problems, economic disparity, sexual violence, harassment and much more. HEEALS is working in order to create spread awareness about health ,education environment ,sanitation, menstrual hygiene, toilets and unsafe drinking water, and its effect on children & female education and health. In particular, it targets those living in rural areas, urban slums, refugee camps and orphanages and it also wants to ensure that communities are equipped to tackle these issues, by providing toilets in the areas most at risk, and by providing things such as water purification tablets, water tanks, soap and sanitary towels for young girls.

But how HEEALS do that? Concretely through research & development engaging workshops, resources distribution and content creation.

Among all these projects, there is also the #stopchidmarriage campaign.

HEEALS is trying to defeat that practice mostly in two ways:

1.With a direct action in the schools & community, which involve workshops , short lessons and interactive games and activities, with the aim of live a stand in children’s minds.

2. With an indirect action through social media and events for sensitizing not only the public opinion in general but also parents.

HEEALS, for example,uses to help some rural village’s school in Uttar Pradesh.

In one of them, almost three years ago the most remarkable case of child marriage, that has involved a female student of around 13 years old, took place. She has been forced to get marriage by her own family. When HEEALS discover this fact, it started first to talk with the girl’s family and then, since there were not signals of change, it called also the designed authority, in order to stop the illegal marriage. Although those efforts, the student had to married her “husband” and she left her home-village and school. On the other hand, HEEALS has kept to fight for her and after several actions, it obtained that the girls returned back to her home for going to school until she will turn 18 years old.

To end up the article, I just present a short consideration.

Under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act of 2005, on March 2007 was set up the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights with the purpose to ensure that all laws, policies, programme, and administrative mechanisms are always in consonance with the Child Rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In spite of this, in 2015 the Indian Government did not sign the resolution of UN against child marriage.

That for pointing up the huge incongruity that are afflicting the Indian public system today. Furthermore, people tend to do not have trust in institutions and in police. It is also well-know that some facts and events are regular obscure to public opinion.

In this context, defeating a problem such child marriage is truly complicated. Definitely joint action is a paramount, as well as NGOs, who prove bravery and a strong will every single day

-Martina 
WASH & MH coordinator