Binti Kantha

1. What is the need for / value of rating NGOs? (conceptual reasons as well as from your personal experiences i.e. in case they were rated, how would it have helped you?)

Rating is important.The process of evolving a code of conduct for the voluntary sector had begun in 1986, with the initiatives of Bunkar Roy, a well known personality in the sector, in collaboration with the Planning Commission. But the voluntary sector itself scuttled this exercise in credibility building as it did not like the process being initiated and directed by the government. However, the initiative for this was taken up subsequently at the Second Commonwealth NGO Forum held at Wellington, New Zealand when guidelines for ‘Good Policy and Practice for NGOs’ were presented and deliberated upon. This document was widely disseminated in India by the Voluntary Action Network of India (VANI), in English and Hindi.

2. On what different criteria should / can NGOs / nonprofits / charities / trusts be rated?

Source of finance, areas of work, modus operandi, all need to be documented and made available in the public domain if they claim to be working on issues of public interst.

3. Who should rate them? i.e. backgrounds of such organisations or individuals

An independent panel of experts comprising charted accountants for financial aspects, lawyers, academics, social activist, beneficiaries, local govt representative, an expert from the said field who is not well versed with the work of the NGO

4. Which NGOs in your (subjective) opinion are outstanding ones in Mumbai?

Have to work on that.Cannot give frivilous judgements

Binti Kantha
bintikantha@yahoo.com