1. 2. 3.
Policy pronouncements on volunteerism in India. Schemes and organizations of the Government to promote volunteerism in India like NSS, NYKS, and NYC. National Level Volunteer based Programmes. Literacy Volunteers of Total Literacy Campaign (TLC) under the National Literacy Mission, (NLM) and Volunteers under Disaster Management Programme.
Policies on Volunteerism National Policy on the Voluntary Sector 2007 Essentially the National Policy on the Voluntary Sector visualized the evolution of a “long term sustainable and institutionalized collaboration between the Government and voluntary organizations”82. This Policy is a commitment to encourage, enable and empower an independent, creative and effective voluntary sector, with diversity in form and function, so that it can contribute to the social, cultural and economic advancement of the people of India. The specific objectives of the policy are:
To create an enabling environment for VOs that stimulates their enterprise and effectiveness, and safeguards their autonomy; To enable VOs to legitimately mobilize necessary financial resources from India and abroad; To identify systems by which the Government may work together with VOs, on the basis of the principles of mutual trust and respect, and with shared responsibility; and, To encourage VOs to adopt transparent and accountable systems of governance and management83.
In recognition of the work being performed by volunteers and the impact made by them on the society at large, the National Policy on Voluntary Sector 2007 emphasized the importance of volunteering, with the aim of strengthening the Voluntary Sector. It stated, “The Government will encourage involvement of volunteers in public services, such as, at family welfare centers, primary health centers, hospitals, schools, vocational training centers, sanitation campaigns, etc.” 84 The Policy also stated: The Government will also examine the feasibility of enacting a simple and liberal central law that will serve as an alternative all-India statute for registering VOs, particularly those that wish to operate in different parts of the country and even abroad. Such a law would co-exist with prevailing central and state laws, allowing a VO the option of registering under one or more laws, depending on the nature and sphere of its activities.
The Government will encourage the evolution of, and subsequently accord recognition to, an independent, national level, self-regulatory agency for the voluntary sector.
82 Jaitli. H., (2011, July 7). The National Policy on the Voluntary Sector: Where do we stand today?. Voluntary Action Network India (VANI). 83 Planning Commission, Government of India (GOI). (2007) National Policy on the volunatry sector – 2007, 3. 84 Planning Commission, Government of India (GOI). (2007). National Policy on the volunatry sector – 2007, 12.
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