CSWB blacklists over 3,000 NGOs

She said the board has introduced the practice of continuous monitoring and evaluation of voluntary agencies to weed out those not having a good track record. At the same time the board has a policy to encourage NGOs headed by dedicated and sincere social workers. About 20,000 such NGOs get funds under various welfare schemes. The chairperson has personally visited a large number of such NGOs.

Explaining the board’s functioning, the chairperson said the board is working not only for equal opportunities to women but is also striving to ensure equal status to them in the society. The issue was taken up with the Central Government, which agreed to observe the year 2001 as the year of women’s empowerment, she added.

Sinha listed a series of other projects undertaken by the board to give a better deal to women and weaker sections of the society. The board has decided to reach out to at least 100 remote villages every month as part of its `Vikas Parv’ programme. The idea is to introduce welfare schemes in villages which remained neglected for all these years.

Among the activities to be undertaken during the year-long drive, include conducting legal literacy programmes in at least two backward districts in each state, organising rallies and mass movements to create awareness about welfare programmes, holding health camps in backward districts where infant mortality and maternal mortality rates are very high, improving the working conditions in establishments employing women workers and holding literacy and vocational education classes in jail wards for women inmates.

In reply to a question, she said the board has decided to introduce pre-marital counselling centres in 25 universities, vocational training courses in all states and a special package for young widows.

To another question, she said the board has proposed to the Central Government that `vridhashrams’ (home for the aged) and creches should be at one place. No NGO should be allowed to open `vridhashram’ and creche separately, she demanded.

Explaining the logic, she said this way the traditional Indian family system of elderly people looking after the young ones could be restored to some extent. The traditional system and values are already under severe strain as more families turning as nucleus families and women are going out for jobs, she said.

During her three-day tour, the board chairperson, visited city NGOs and also held discussions with city Mayor Wasundhara Masurkar and Municipal officials about welfare projects being implemented for the weaker sections.