Role of NGOS in Social Inclusion and People’s participation: A Case Study of Budhabare VDC, Jhapa District, Nepal

Abstract

The concepts of social exclusion and its twin, social inclusion, were introduced at first in France and then popularized in social policy discourse in Europe in response to the crises of the welfare state and then used in other regions, especially in developmental discourses. Social inclusion is based on the belief that we all fare better when no one is left to fall too far behind and the economy works for everyone. Social in clusionsimultaneously incorporates multiple dimensions of well-being. It is achieved when all have the opportunity and resources necessary to participate fully in economic, social, and cultural activities which are considered the societal norm.Emergence of inclusion movement in Nepal today is the result of continuous exclusion and indifference of the history. There are three layers of exclusion continue in Nepal:exclusion because of remoteness leading to low access to schools; exclusion because of caste and ethnicity; and exclusion because of gender.Therefore, in the context of Nepal,inclusion refers to the equitable political representation of the excluded segments of population, including women, various caste and ethnic groups, and those who live in underdeveloped regions.There is a long tradition of community networks and partnerships in Nepal. But, the NGO movement gathered momentum only after the restoration of democracy in the country in1990.The government alone cannot meet the numerous needs of the people. So NGO sevolved as a drivers and partners of development to make the prosperous, modern and just Nepal in Three Years Interim Plan (2064/065-2066/067). Social Welfare Council,as an apex body, is responsible for the promotion, facilitation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the activities of the NGOs in Nepal.The NGO movement is gaining strength but they are criticized due to their urban-based, partisan, projectized and interest-based nature. More than 70 local NGOs are registered in the DAO office Jhapa. Among them, most are working in the field of community and rural development. On one hand the adequate number of NGOs in the VDC shows the development concern of the people in the VDC, but on the other hand, only a dozen or two are operating, to some extent, satisfactorily and rest are passive with inconsequential role in social inclusion. The great challenge of NGOs of the VDC is to revitalize such passive NGOs and to develop their capacities with contribution to promote social inclusion Most of the NGOs of VDC are individual based institutions founded by leadership motives. The running of an NGO appeared like running household affairs or some private enterprises. Institutionalization of NGOs, Scarce of resources, Co-ordination with DDC, VDC, empowerment and capacity building of excluded gender, caste and ethnic group are major problems to foster social inclusion and people’s participation among the NGO community of theVDC. To face the above challenges and to tackle the problems., there should be an effective action plan is needed to ensure women, Dalit, Indigenous Nationalities, Mdhesies and other disadvantaged and poorpeople’s maximum participation in NGOs activities(planning, decision making,implementation, monitoring and evaluation and the sharing of benefits) of the projects in the VDC, which ultimately promotes social inclusion.