The NGO world

There are many out in this world who believe what we do is fake and that we are making money. The unfortunate part is that there are many such NGOs who float organizations to make money. Their paper work will be perfect, their auditing will be wonderful, every paisa will be accounted- after all it is easy to get fake vouchers and receipts.
For example, there was one such organization whom I visited in Sonbhadra District when I was in Benaras this past month. The site visit had been requested by a chapter in the US. Before sending the funds the chapter wanted the mandatory site visit done. So from Naugarh we landed in Robertsganj, Sonbhadra district, without prior warning.
It was amazing. The village was on the road and standing on the edge, we could see the primary school on the other side of the road. When we questioned the children, they blurted out that all of them are enrolled in schools and they hardly ever come to the non-formal education centre, for which funds were being sought. They were very critical of the teachers who were supposed to be teaching at the centre.
Then we asked a question that had been bothering us:
"Why didn't you go to school today?"
They threw a glance at the project coordinator and then said:
"We were told that people are coming to see us and that we will be given new clothes."
Needless to say this is one project we are not supporting.
This is just one example. Every funding agency has its repertoire of favourite stories of NGOs out to make a fool of them. My cousin, Madhu, who works with the enviornmental groups was regaling me with stories. My favourite was the one where he landed up in Chidambaram to meet an NGO who said that they were working on Mangroves. The address turned out to be that of a store selling utensils! The owner lived in Dubai and had hit upon this as a scheme as one way of making money.
These NGOs do much to discredit those who work hard and selflessly to bring about change. There are those, like the couple I met few of months back, who have just given their entire life to the cause they believe in. And then are those commercial merchants who see this as an opportunity to line their own pockets.
It takes all sorts to make this world.