Grant Management to NGOs to be more transparent: Minister of Women and Child Development Smt. Krishna Tirath

Addressing the delegates of voluntary organisations after inaugurating the National Consultation for Evolving an Efficient Grant Management System towards Improving GO-NGO Cooperation in WCD Schemes, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Women & Child Development Smt. Krishna Tirath said that transparency in managing grant system was imperative. The Consultation was organised by National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) during 27-28 January, 2011 at New Delhi and its four Regional Centres. In view of greater penetration of voluntary organisations in far-flung areas, and their demonstrated capabilities in implementation of Five-Year plans, they were in better position to manage the issues at grass-root level, the Minister said. She said, more the number of voluntary agencies, higher the pace of development. They are the eyes, ears and legs of the government, she added.

In his welcome address the Additional Secretary WCD, Shri Sudhir Kumar said that the Consultation was meant to have direct dialogue with voluntary agencies so as to evolve a robust, transparent and effective grant management system. The National Consultation drew over 80 representatives from government and voluntary sector from various parts of the country. Shri Sudhir Kumar exhorted the voluntary sector to innovate and implement schemes for women and children in several areas with greater ease on wider scale taking advantage of their intimate rapport with local people, where government intervention was difficult. He also assured that the government would clear the pending proposals adopting newer technologies soon to be in place.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing many schemes with the help of Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs). The two-day Consultations is organised by NIPCCD in order to seek cooperation / participation of NGOs in effective implementation of the Schemes. The objectives of the Consultations are to review the existing pattern, process and procedure of Grant-in-Aid under different schemes; identify the complexities and challenges of disbursal of Grant-in-Aid experienced by Voluntary Organisations VOs and the Government Agencies; bring about transparency and accountability at various levels; and suggest remedial measures for evolving an efficient Grant Management System to achieve improved GO-NGO Cooperation and for providing better services to the Community. The Consultations recommended evolving a transparent grant management system, creation of a single window system for the grant proposals, timely release of grant requests, simplification of procedures, grievance redressal machinery, and on-line management of grant proposals. The Regional Consultations held simultaneously at four Regional Centres of NIPCCD located at Bangalore, Guwahati, Indore and Lucknow was attended by about 300 delegates.

YSK: PM