Role of Ngos in Rural Development

Abstract

Non-Governmental Organisation has usually defined as voluntary, autonomous, non-profit organisations or groups of citizens reputable to address many problems and disadvantages in the society. In this paper, an attempt has been made to study the role of NGOs in rural development and community development. NGOs are predictable to play a vital role in all conceivable aspects of rural reconstruction and development. The primary objectives of NGOs are outlined as, development of women and rural folks socially, economically, politically through income generating activities, education programmes, awareness camps, etc., general socioeconomic development of the people living in rural areas especially in downtrodden areas, encouraging the country folks to participate actively in cultural activities, arts, sports and science activities, development of the underprivileged sections of the society such as fishermen tribes, rural women etc, running educational programmes like formal education, non-formal education and adult education programmes to decrease illiteracy rate and to improve human resources for the development of a nation, protecting the environment, rehabilitating the deprived sections like the handicapped, mentally retarded and orphans, eradicating poverty through generation of employment opportunities, income generating activities, establishing competitions and giving exercise to the youth to join actively in rural development activities, initiating self-employment ventures and coordinating leadership/personality development programmes, creating awareness and conducting de-addiction programmes, formation of self-help groups and to provide financial assistance to the members of SHGs in order to empower them economically and improving health, hygiene and sanitation in slum areas and protecting the interests of consumers and working for prohibition and assisting in housing. The overall analysis of the study discloses that NGOs are very protuberant in real execution of government programmes towards sustainability rural development through the NGOs activities in education, healthcare, women development, aged/elderly, leprosy control, HIV/AIDS, childcare, conservation of environment, youth empowerment, poverty alleviation employment and income generating activities, sustainable agriculture and disabled development in Thoothukudi district.