PIROJPUR, July 3: Financial crisis pushed many non-government organisations (NGOs) in the district to close their activities, and some are trying hard to survive.
The NGOs, which are based on community welfare, are suffering much from fund constraint as the donors' focus has changed, and funding from donors has been reduced drastically. Non-micro financing national NGOs are also facing such kind of suffering.
Mainly two types of NGOs are working here: one for providing microfinance to the poor and the other for making people aware on their rights, good governance, anti-corruption, women's rights and empowerment, strengthening local government, providing training to development skill, keeping peace and harmony in the society, voter education and democracy, establishing ethnic minority and excluded communities, promoting folk culture and heritage, national and local government budget and budgetary analysis, capacity building training, children's education, child rights, development knowledge about reproductive health and nutrition, disaster management, environment, agriculture, and other welfare activities.
Local NGOs receive funds directly from international NGOs and donors for implementation of the projects for long and short periods while national level NGOs are seeking funds to implement projects through local NGOs.
Micro-financing NGOs collect money from the government through Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and lend the money to the people and collect the instalment with interest in every week.
These kinds of NGOs are in comfortable position and have no anxiety for survival rather they are aggressively rushing to occupy every corner of the district. National NGOs like ASA, Brac, Ric, codec, Jagarony Chakra Foundation, Uddipan, Padakkhep are doing profit-making business but they have no mentionable welfare activities.
The NGOs which have been formed locally are not operating credit business, and their existence is under question.
Local Registration Officer of Social Services Department Md. Ikteruddin Mustafa said, "Around 800 registrations were given to different organisations. But of them, hardly 50 became active and operative. The number of organisations is gradually coming down."
Local NGO leader Md. Rafiqul Islam said, Annesha Foundation and Chalantika Welfare Society of Nazirpur, Rural Welfare Society (RWS), Social Development Organisation (SDO) of Nesarabad, Saikot and Bandhan Welfare Society of Pirojpur Sadar, Assed, Alo of Mathbaria, Polli Punargathan Club (PPC), Krishi Club of Bhandaria, Doctor Dhiren Sikder Foundation (DDF), Pirojpur Development Society (PDS) of Indurkani have been finally closed down.
Advisor of Parga Nari Kallyan Samity (PNKS) Sayed Farid said, welfare activities are being implemented under some big national NGOs like Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Brac, Desh-Bangladesh, Ric and other major players in the situations.
On the other hand international NGOs are implementing project directly al local level. So scope of work for local NGOs is uncertain.
Local Secretary of Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh (ADAB) KM Faridul Islam said, the government is jointly implementing projects with influential and financially solvent organisations but they have no social commitment for local society.
Deputy Director (DD) of Social Services Department Al-Mamun Talukder said, "We provide small grants to our affiliate organisations and two to five thousand apply for the grant per year. No organisation can sustain with this grant and they need more financial support."
