SPEECH BY HER EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SHRIMATI PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL, AT THE CONCLUDING SESSION OF THE NATIONAL MEET OF THE CONFEDERATION OF NGOs OF RURAL INDIA

New Delhi, 27th April 2008

Dear Friends,

I am happy to participate in the 3rd Annual National Meet of the Confederation of NGOs of Rural India.

I convey my greetings and good wishes to all the participants of the 3rd National Annual Meet of the Confederation of NGOs of Rural India. I am pleased to deliver the Valedictory address of this three-day meeting. I welcome you all, who have come from different parts of India. I understand that, after detailed debate and deliberations, several resolutions have been adopted that seek to enhance NGO participation in implementing development programmes, to strengthen the Panchayati Raj institutions and to encourage the use of modern techniques to improve production as also productivity in the rural areas. I am sure that all of you are contributing significantly in this field.

NGOs have a wide network spread across the country. The Confederation of NGOs of Rural India, with a membership of 6,000 NGOs and Self-Help Groups, spread across the country can definitely contribute to strengthening the delivery mechanism of the welfare schemes initiated by the Government. I congratulate Shri Mohan Dhariaji for his initiative in this direction. The CNRI as an organisation is doing a very important work to strengthen the network of NGOs in the country.

Several schemes have been formulated by Government for addressing issues related to rural development and for the empowerment of the disadvantaged sections, including women. The biggest challenge remains the implementation of these schemes and programmes in a time bound, transparent and accountable manner. It is also true that the Government singularly cannot undertake implementation of projects, it requires wider participation. Government efforts need to be supported by voluntary agencies and civil society. In this context, the role of NGOs as the development partners of Government is extremely important. However, to make this partnership viable, the parameters of the relationship would need to be properly formulated.

The voluntary sector movement has been the part of our freedom struggle and national awakening. Gandhiji, Swami Dayanand and Swami Vivekanand, all of them, emphasized strong social and community action to promote education and scientific thinking in the country as well as to remove social evils. Instances of addiction, female foeticide and child marriage are alarmingly high and are causing immeasurable harm to society. The low proportion of female population is resulting in social imbalance, rise in crime and adversely affecting moral values. Your support in fighting against these social evils to eradicate them from the society is very important. Voluntary movement have proved to be successful in sectors like handloom weavers, marketing of dairy products and in educational programmes. These successes encourage me to believe that there is great scope and potential for voluntary organizations in propelling the future growth of India, including in the rural area. NGOs, however, have a responsibility to draw up for themselves a set of guidelines to incorporate standards of accountability and transparency in functioning. This will not only ensure their smooth functioning but will also be important for building credibility and avoidance of criticism. If you are to be the agents of change, it is important to win people's trust, since it is trust alone that can give NGOs acceptability among the people and an image of integrity.

India is growing and its impact is being felt across the globe. During my recent visit to Brazil, Mexico and Chile - all the political leaders, parliamentarians, members of business originations, academicians, members of judiciary and others, I interacted with, spoke with admiration of our cultural heritage, our philosophy of tolerance and non-violence, emergent India and its growing importance in the world. They have a lot of respect for Mahatma Gandhi, Pt. Nehru and Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore. They consider them as their spiritual and moral guides. All this makes us proud but it is also a reminder of the tasks, targets and objectives that we are yet to achieve and accomplish and the obligation to preserve our values.

I am glad to be here at this meeting, as I strongly believe that with 70% of our population living in villages, and all of you are working there. The development of India will not be comprehensive or complete unless there is development in the rural areas. Moreover, in the fast changing world, there is need to act with haste to ensure that our population living in the rural areas has the skills and opportunities to benefit from growth. The 11th Five Year Plan is targeting economic growth with emphasis on inclusive growth. A major focus of our efforts must be on bringing about a visible and tangible difference in the quality of life of the rural population, especially the rural poor of our country. The programmes for employment, capacity building improvement of health and education facilities, soil and water conservation, afforestation, irrigation, sanitation and hygiene, in particular toilets for women, should be undertaken with a sense of urgency. Equally important are schemes that increase agricultural productivity. We had achieved self-sufficiency in food grains on account of the successful Green Revolution that took place in India. But now we need to focus on bringing about a Second Green Revolution. The policy makers, the scientific community, civil society organizations, NGOs should look at how research and dissemination of information about use of better quality seed, improved harvesting facilities and better agriculture techniques and methodologies, can enhance our agricultural productivity and output. W should inform our farmers about all this.

NGOs have the responsibility to reach out to the most under-privileged sections of society. They need to work selflessly in their midst. Empowerment of the most deprived sections is necessary for building a more equitable society. As the Tamil poet, Subramanium Bharati said, and I quote "even if one person is deprived of food for his living, the whole world should rise, unite and take care of him". Unquote.

You must have experienced that often there is lack of awareness about various development and welfare programmes among people. NGOs must maintain contact with the people and bring to them information of policies, programmes, marketing support and better farming practices. NGOs should be "committed bands of social workers" for promoting development. NGOs - who have social entrepreneurial skills - can play a role in bridging the divide between urban and rural India, the rich and the poor, and contribute immensely for growth on sustainable terms.

I also believe that empowerment of women is an important task. Unless and until this half of our population is better equipped to participate in the national process of development, we would not fully realize our potential. It is not only in India but also in Chile where there is a woman President who strongly shares the view that women should be empowered at all levels for the development of the country. Women groups, in particular, must come together to seek both their growth and rights. NGOs must look at how to work with women groups to enable the delivery of the benefits of the government programmes to women. I am glad to know that 50% of the membership of CNRI is comprised of women and NGOs headed by women. I hope that the programmes of women empowerment are implemented on concrete lines by CNRI.

I am happy to note that the Conference of CNRI has dedicated itself to the fulfillment of its social responsibility, inclusive growth, and all that will make the society a better place to live for a larger number of our population. In this context, I am reminded of the words of Swami Vivekananda, who said, and I quote, "go from village to village, do good to humanity and to the world at large." Unquote. These words should be a source of inspiration for NGOs and voluntary agencies involved in rural development. I am very happy and I want to greet Shri Mohan Dhariaji for starting this organization. He is doing a great social service. When govt. organizations and NGOs work together in the field of rural development, it definitely brings significant results.

In conclusion, I wish to convey my best wishes to CNRI and hope that it grows from strength to strength in the years to come.

Thank you. Jai Hind.