Civil Society Movement
A New Momentum In Nepal

By Mukti Rijal

CIVIL Society in Nepal is gaining new momentum. A rough calculation of the formally registered civil society organisations in Nepal puts them over fifty thousands averaging around eight hundred per districts in seventy five districts of the Kingdom of Nepal. This quantitative expansion of civil society organisations has not been accompanied by the quality and capacity needed for the role and responsibilities they are expected to accomplish. There may be several reasons for it. The most critical aspect is the lacking in institutionalisation of the organisation supported by professional growth and competence.

Roles

They are supposed to contribute to social well being and development by performing mainly three categories of roles. The complementary role of the civil society organisations pertains to engage constructively or work with state organisations. They should support them in promoting and executing activities that are meant to enlarging civic choices and opportunities for development. The non-state organisations have their role to contribute to reform the state and society as well. By performing the reformist role civil society organisation tend to fight the anti-social and anti-people anomalies and distortions arising out of state policies. This role of civil society shows as if they are the antagonists of the state action, tendencies and authoritarian values.

There is another more radical role expected from the non-governmental organisations that is revolutionary or transformative role. They should rally for bigger social transformation and stability through social conscientisation, and critical awareness building. Rajesh Tandon an internationally acclaimed leader of the Civil Society movement in India identifies three major contributions voluntary civil society organisations can make in the context of social democratisation and national development. They are innovations, empowerment and advocacy. They are the unique -selling -points (USPs) or the comparative advantages of the civil society organisations. Rajesh Tandon writes "If voluntary organisations become an extension of the government department, if they are unable to identify, document and give visibility to new emerging issues in society, and if they are not able to mobilise human creativity to evolve solution to the pressing and difficult problems of development of our times. They will add no value to this enormous task of national development".

The current situation of conflict and political degeneration in Nepal calls for soul- searching and introspection on the part of both civil and political society. Why civil society organisations have failed to perform as ardent champion of civic values and norms, confront with the refarious tendencies eating into the social vitals needs to be reflected upon. Though it could be argued that like the democratic experimentation, civil society organisations based on the Lockean conception are the nascent phenomenon in Nepal and expecting them to respond and act in a very strong and mature way is stretching too far. However, certain ambivalent trends and weaknesses have contributed to the problems of the independent sector (Voluntary sector) in Nepal.

Civil Society organisations especially NGOs are urban based and their activities have not in several cases touched the people at the core rural heart lands to the possible extent. They are in some cases captured by elites who can influence and make inroads into accessing donor assistances and resources. The 'hegemony of elites' exits in the civil society. They are generally donor dependent. The ingenious drive and propensity to make use of the local resources and capacity has almost been suppressed or inhibited. Without the donor crutches no non-governmental organisation has the propensity and willingness to move and work. The efforts to revive the voluntary spirit and work utilising the local resources are very limited. Civil Society organisations especially NGOs have come under sharp scrutiny and criticism because there is a yawning gap between the values they preach and practice. The donors often set the NGOs agenda in Nepal and they are accountable more to those who dole out funding to them than the communities they profess to serve.

NGOs are institutionally very weak. Neither are they good at following modern managerial practices nor do they adopt social relation based approach to boost links, networks and coordination with target communities. Coalition and networking among NGOs in Nepal is virtually lacking. However, there has been sufficient realisation both on the part of donors and NGO leaders that networking is really needed to produce impact. Information sharing and coalition building is being lately recognized as an important aspect of strengthening civil society.

Commendable

Despite the weaknesses mentioned above, civil society is emerging as a powerful actor in Nepal. The recent developments, especially the role played by civil society organisations to exert pressure on the government and Maoists to talk peace is commendable. It is time civil society played an enhanced role to claim and further its place as the major arbiter of social and civic destiny. It is this vigilant role that would give them more credence and legitimisation in the time to come.

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