Does anybody actually know why an NGO has started? Does anybody know the motive behind a person who is so eager to join an NGO? The answer could be purely understood after a few years when it benefits them in some way.

India is a place where a lot of issues happen in our day-day life. This gives ample of reasons to form up an NGO. It has gone to such an extent that people have lost track of how many NGO’s are actually present in the country. In fact, how many are actually working to their cause? There are many NGO’s which pool in many human resources for working towards their cause. But at times, the result is not actually felt.

Why so? The answer lies deep within the minds of these NGO’s founders. A major issue in many NGOs is that they initially set out with their motives, but later on, their motives drift towards profitability. When this happens, the very first meaning of an NGO is shattered. According to the definition, an NGO is ‘A legally constituted non-commercial organisation created by natural or legal persons with no participation or representation of any government’. But is this the truth, especially in a country where corruption is the first thing that comes into play? NO! So where is all this money flowing to? Do you remember the last time you donated to an NGO?

Do you exactly see the result of such a donation other than a piece of paper also known as a receipt? Well you will, if it actually does something for its purpose. Many NGO’s initially fulfil their motives, gain people’s trust, and then slowly become a not so ‘non-profitable’ organisation. A major example is MAD – Make a Difference. It works almost in many states across India and was one of the leading NGO’s in the country. It works for the empowerment of children through education and many more. But what happened for it to lose its trust from people? As mentioned earlier, it became an organisation where money is being rolled around. Nobody really knows the internal working of MAD presently except for its members.

A lot of money is strewn around and a number of internal skirmishes which even led to the resignation of 2 of its founders from its Board of Directors. Apart from this, only 25% of its earnings are actually going for its children. Along with this, they have many rules and regulations which restrict the freedom of its members. There have been situations when a couple is restricted to work together for the firm. This was mostly seen in MAD, Cochin; the biggest failure out of all the other MAD centres. There had also been cases where due to personal jealousies, leaders of the teams have crushed the education and career of its members.

Apart from this, partiality is a huge scenario in the organisations. Lots of biassed opinions are supported and the ones who are in the ‘favourites’ list can misbehave with outsiders during events. An organisation which sets high standards for its “Code of Conduct” manipulates these so called rules and has received a huge list of criticisms.

The members are mostly attracted by the certificates provided and not by the cause. Many of the team leaders, in fact, work just for the sake of filling up their resume. Apart from this, it’s the only NGO which places meetings in posh cafes without at times noticing the convenience of some of its members.
It is ironical that they spend a lot for their meetings by instead just donating that amount for their cause. Along with this, almost 100-200 members quit Mad every year because of its so-called “Code of Conduct”. Many of its members including 2 of its Founders, have quit Mad. But obviously, they handle that crisis by keeping “recruitments” every year where victims join either for personal gains or for the cause. Many of them take it as a brand to work for the NGO; some of them are a part of the “favourites” therefore survive while others are just poor souls who start hating to work for the Ngo because of the other members. These are just some out of the many reasons why MAD is dwindling.

Does MAD really ‘Make a Difference’? It used to, but not anymore due to its present “hard-working” members. Just like MAD, does any other NGO actually work for its cause? Nobody really knows, but can be understood from its results. To empower a community or to support a cause, it does not necessarily require an Ngo. All you need is to come together and have the willing to help some way instead of conducting recruitments like MAD where you have to be “eligible” enough to be a social worker. If you give an orphan something valuable for them, or a beggar some food or money, your heart becomes an NGO. All it takes is a big heart filled with love and care, and that can surely make a difference!