What is an NGO?
NGO or a Non-Governmental Organization refers to a group of people who come together for a good cause that’s usually a common goal for everyone who joins the NGO without any connection with the government. They do not work for the incentive of earning profits like most organizations. They work for one purpose which is the welfare of society.
1. HelpAge India
HelpAge India is an Indian organization founded by Mr. Jackson Cole in the year 1978. It serves all across the country. The organization’s aim is to serve disadvantaged elders in a comprehensive manner enabling them to live a healthier, happier, and more independent life. This NGO was initially registered in Delhi and it all started from a rented two-room office located in Kasturba Gandhi Marg. the objective of this organization is to work for the disadvantaged older people to provide them with good care and improve their quality of life.
The NGO offers services that can be availed by any old person if he or she calls on a toll-free helpline number and ask for assistance. The services offered by the same include good health care, legal support such as providing pension funds that they deserve, providing them with information related to services available, etc.
2. CRY: Child Rights and You
CRY was started in 1979 by 7 people, Rippan Kumar being the leader among them. Its headquarters are located in Mumbai, India. the idea of started this NGO was implemented by just Rs.50. The aim of the organization is to provide those rights that children deserve and thereby create an ecosystem where children are the priority of the whole nation.
CRY’s main objectives are to provide children with their right to development which includes educating them starting from the primary level to higher-level studies, to promote the right to survival by making sure that they get regular and adequate meals, to promote the right to protection by ensuring their safety and to promote the right to participation i.e. making them participate in personality enrichment events held by the way of organizing various campaigns.
3. Lepra Society
Lepra Society is formed for those who are affected by leprosy. Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium Leprae that affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, and upper respiratory tracts of the eyes. This society was formed in 1874 by an Irish man names Wellesly Cosby Bailey in Ambala, India. The aim of the organization is to identify the patients within an area via mass contact and surveys and then cure them by treating them with multi-drug therapy (MDT).
With great success in accomplishing its mission, the Lepra Society now also helps people with malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS. The NAMP- National Anti-Malaria Programme started by the government is also becoming a part of this society by its contribution towards the program.
4. Sounds of Silence
SOS is India’s first technology-based NGO started by Mr. Sumit Singh Gandhi in the year 2012 in Mumbai. It all started when Gandhi was traveling from one place to another and he crossed paths with a deaf person with whom he was unable to communicate. He tried to think of a way to talk to the deaf man and came across the method of using SMS as a way of communication. Gandhi shortly took an initiative after this incident to help others who are also deaf. The aim of SOS is to provide a means of communication for those who do not have the ability to hear or speak.
SOS also goes to schools in villages or backward areas and helps those underprivileged kids and in communicating those who are unable to speak or hear. The organization organizes campaigns that teach these children how to communicate using sign language.
5. Uday Foundation
Uday Foundation was started in 2007 by a couple, Tulika and Rahul Verma in Delhi. The story behind the foundation of this NGO is indeed very heart touching. The couple had their second child, a baby boy in the year 2006 who was born with many congenital disorders and other syndromes. To cure this condition, the child had to go through ten surgeries to become a normal healthy baby.
This urged the couple to start an organization for other such children who are born with these disorders.
The aim of this foundation is to provide for those who can not afford to treat their children without giving up on other necessary amenities such as food, shelter, etc. The NGO organizes a number of campaigns to raise money for the families who need resources such as medication, blankets, shelter, etc. and also provide them with food for proper nutrition.
6. Deepalaya
Deepalaya is the largest organization in Delhi that has been working towards making a better society for the last three decades. It was started in 1979 by T.K. Mathew. This organization was also awarded the Indo American Corporate Excellence Award for the best NGO in the year 2012. the aim of Deepalaya is to improve the condition of women and children in both rural and urban areas.
The organization initially started promoting the education of the girl child. Over the years, it has started to focus on gender equality as well. A salient feature of this NGO is that it runs a van that goes around the country to different villages and backward areas to provide the needy people fostering treatments and check-ups to make sure that the population of the country stays healthy and self-reliant.
7. Udaan Welfare Foundation
Udaan Welfare Foundation was started in 2008 with an aim to provide meaningful and timely support to senior citizens, needy children, and women with respect to their education, health care, and nutrition.
The organization organizes events to educate children, women, and senior citizens. They impart soft knowledge to young children and also teach senior citizens and women how to use computers since the world is turning into a technological hub. They also create awareness to protect the environment and launch campaigns on a large scale to plant more trees and save water.
8. Goonj
Goonj is a very popular NGO that was started in the year 1998 by Mr. Anshu Gupta who left a corporate year for this extremely good purpose. Its headquarters are in Delhi and the NGO has constantly been providing disaster relief and community development in 23 states across the country. The main aim of Goonj is to provide clothing to those who do not have it and also underlines it as a big necessity that is often overlooked.
It provides affordable and cheap clothing materials to the people who live in backward regions or in villages by manufacturing them using old or used up clothes that other people donate. A major response was received by the NGO once it started its school-to-school campaigns where they started going to schools in urban areas, teaching children the importance of recycling and urged them to get anything and everything that was of no use to them. They have also taken many initiatives to reach those who need help and provide them with whatever they need in times of disasters.
9. Rural Health Care Foundation
Rural Health Care Foundation is an NGO founded by late Arun Nevatia in the year 2009. he was a cancer survivor who realized the need for funds in medical situations that can not be avoided at all under any circumstances. The thought of poor people living in remote districts of the country not being able to provide for their health kept bothering him and therefore, he decided to leave his business and start this NGO to raise funds for those who need them in such situations and organize campaigns and projects to reach them with an adequate number of professionals and equipment.
They visit backward areas by creating a chain of primary health care units that offer affordable yet high-quality facilities needed for those who need medical help or assistance.
10. Smile Foundation
Smile foundation is a non-government organization founded by Santanu Mishra and his friends in the year 2002 in Delhi. The aim of the organization is to provide health care, education, shelter, and empowerment mainly to the families of underprivileged children.
Firstly, the provide the necessary facilities regarding health care or empowerment. Secondly, they create awareness regarding these important factors and educate the families of these underprivileged kids about health-related issues as well as their rights so that they are not exploited by employers.
Written By - Hunnar Kaushal
Edited by - Chhavi Gupta
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