3rd and 4th December, 2008: Regional Workshop on Good Governance in Civil Society Organisations in Bhubaneshwar, Orissa

Regional Workshop on Good Governance in Civil Society Organisations was organized by VANI in association with Irish Aid and PREM in Bhubaneshwar, Orissa on 3rd -4th December, 2008.The objective of the workshop was to sensitise, educate and motivate members of Civil Society Organisations on the value of good governance and to follow self prescribed norms and good practices of Governance and Management. Read More...

9th January 2009: Consultation on Pre-Budget Memorandum in New Delhi

VANI has been advocating with GOI to simplify tax laws for voluntary sector. In April 2008 also it organized a meeting on amendments brought in the definition of 'charitable purpose' in the Finance Act 2008, with a number of CSO representatives which resulted in submission of a memorandum to the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, requesting it not to go ahead with the proposed amendment. VANI is also campaigning in order to place a request to DEFER the implementation of this amendment to provide opportunity and time for the government to have some consultations with the voluntary sector on the rationales and consequences of the proposed amendment. Read More...

• Pre budget memorandum on Charitable purposes/Business Activity submitted to Hon’ble Prime Minister : January 2009
• Pre budget memorandum submitted to Hon’ble Prime Minister: January 2009
  

20th & 21st January, 2009: Sate consultation on National Policy on Voluntary Sector in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

VANI, in support with MADHYAVAN, organized a State Consultation on National Policy on the Voluntary Sector on 20th & 21st January 2009 at MLA Rest House, Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh). Altogether 52 NGO representatives from different parts of the state attended the meeting. Mr. Awadhesh Kumar, President, MADHYAVAN gave salutation address and shared the agenda/objectives of the two-day consultation meeting. Justice Narayan Singh Azad, MP & Member, Human Rights Commission was present as chief guest & addressed the inaugural session. Shri Ashok Chaturvedi, Advisor, Chief Minister, Government of Chattisgarh was the Special Guest. Read More...

27th & 28th January 2009; National Consultation on Implementation of Forest Rights Act 2006.

On 27th and 28th January 2009, VANI participated in a national level consultation on the "Implementation of the Forest Rights Act" at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Organised by National Advocacy Council for the Development of Indigenous People (NAC-DIP), this event was the culmination of 11 state level consultations held between October 2008 and January 2009. Read More...

28th & 29th January, 2009: Sate consultation on National Policy on Voluntary Sector in Chennai, Tamil Nadu

State Consultation on National Policy on Voluntary Sector was held on 28th & 29th January 2009 at Asha Nivas, Chennai. The consultation was organized by VANI in cooperation with Rejuvenate India Movement (RIM), Chennai. Shri T. K. Ramkumar, Secretary, RIM rendered the welcome address and shared the agenda/objectives of the two-day consultation meeting. Shri Ashok Vardhan Shetty IAS, Principal Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu inaugurated the Consultation and delivered the presidential address. Dr. M. Naganathan, Vice Chairman, State Planning Commission, Government of Tamilnadu addressed the gathering. Read More...

10th & 11th February, 2009: Sate consultation on National Policy on Voluntary Sector in Ahmedabad, Gujarat

VANI, in collaboration with Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), Ahmedabad organised a state consultation on National Policy on Voluntary Sector at EDI Conference Hall, Ahmedabad on 10th & 11th February 2009. The objective of this consultation was to enable the participants to understand the various aspect of the policy, its implications for the voluntary sector and to facilitate the creation of a policy for the State. Prof. Dinesh Kumar Awasthi, Director, EDI delivered the welcome address and shared the agenda/objectives of the consultation. Shri. P. K. Laheri, IAS (Retd.), Former Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat inaugurated and addressed the occasion. Read More...

20th February: Meeting of the informal think tank set up about a year ago under the aegis of United Nations Volunteer Program in wake of finalization of the national policy on voluntary sector and ways in which the same should be operationalized for the benefit of voluntary sector.

A meeting an informal think tank set up about a year ago under the aegis of United Nations Volunteer Program in wake of finalization of the national policy on voluntary sector and ways in which the same should be operationalized for the benefit of voluntary sector, was organised in office of Times Foundation on 20th February 2009. It was represented by Resource Alliance, VANI, Chadha Group, Sehgal Foundation, Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO-India), Partners in Change, National Foundation for Communal Harmony (MHA), UNVP, and Times Foundation. The meeting aimed at reviewing the effectiveness of the national policy on voluntary sector, update on the UN Handbook implementation and FCR and development of innovative ideas on volunteering and partnerships.

Sharing the update on FCRA Mr. Paarash Tewary, CEO VANI commented on how the Government would take care of the issues pertaining to FCRA through the Money Laundering Bill. He also said that the Ministry of Home Affairs has made a submission that they have found nothing untoward with NGOs. They would further see to it on how the FCRA can be implemented and operationalized easily so that people filing returns can address their difficulties. They are further trying to define ‘Charitable purposes’

FCRA now would be more simplistic and more vigilant. The MHA and other ministries giving grants are to be monitored by intelligent sources within the government. Three eminent people have been appointed as consultants to provide feedback on the backend activities to be made available to the NGOs. This would encourage least human intervention and the process would become more mechanical, time bound, result oriented, flexible and remove paper work eventually. All this would lead to better transperancy.

MHA is also creating Green/ Yellow/ Red Band to classify NGOs and monitor them. Government is relaxing FCRA. Thus number of entities submitting files has increased which inturn has increased the amount filed on returns too (approximately Rs.12 Crores)

Mr. Tewary also said that there is a demand to create a separate department for voluntary sector. The idea behind the new law is to have a good database at one place, rather than black listing NGOs their registrations would be cancelled.

VANI ‘s Network member UPVAN – Uttar Pradesh Voluntary Action Network documents the “Peoples’ Election Manifesto"

VANI member in Uttar Pradesh - UPVAN in association with Wada Na Todo Abhiyan, New Delhi initiated to explore the local needs of the common man through its member organisations in 19 parliamentary Constituencies in the State of UP. As a result, it was documented as the “Peoples’ Election Manifesto” for the Loksabha elections, which are to be held from 16th April – 15th May 2009. The purpose is to create a group pressure over the state/National level political parties to adopt & adhere, while they are in power or not. The aim is to bring the common man in the centre of the democratic phenomena.

24th February; Visit by Mr. Martin Sime, Chief Executive, Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)

Mr. Martin Sime, Chief Executive, SCVO he has taken a six month sabbatical from his post in order to undertake an international research project. As part of this project, he visited VANI to know about its programmes and activities related to its membership network.

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is the national body representing the voluntary sector. SCVO seeks to advance the values and shared interests of the voluntary sector. SCVO seeks to advance the values and shared interests of the voluntary sector by building voluntary sector capacity and strengthen governance, increasing the effectiveness of the voluntary sector’s infrastructure, promoting citizen action and civic engagement, improving the voluntary sector’s contribution to better Scottish public services and promoting civil society interaction locally, nationally and globally

3rd & 4th March 2009: Sate consultation on National Policy on Voluntary Sector in Goa.

VANI, in coalition with Forum of Voluntary Organisations in Goa organized a State Consultation on National Policy on the Voluntary Sector on 3rd & 4th March 2009 at Ginger Hotel, Panjim (Goa). In total 45 NGO representatives from different parts of the state attended the meeting. Mr. Reggie Gomes, Convener, FVO gave welcome address and shared the agenda/objectives of the two-day consultation meeting. Mr. A. K. Wasnik, Secretary, Dept of Women & Child Development, Government of Goa was present as chief guest & addressed the inaugural session. Mr. Paresh Tewary, CEO, VANI made a presentation on National Policy on the Voluntary Sector. Mr. Soter D’Souza, Director, Centre for Panchayat Studies, Mr. Roland Martins, Goa DESC, Mr. Sanjay Gadkar, Director, Dept. of Social Welfare, Government of Goa, Mr. Sandesh Prabhudesai, Editor, SUNAPARANT, Dr. Pramod Salgaonkar, Women’s Commission, Government of Goa, Mr. Kumar Kalanand Mani, Director, Peaceful Society, Goa, Mr. Sandeep Bhandari, Chartered Accountant, Mr. Shaikh Shoaib, Secretary, Students Islamic Organisation of India, Goa, Prof. Bhaskar Nayak, Director, Directorate of Higher Studies, Government of Goa, Mr. Ashwin Tombat, Editor, HERALD, Dr. Nistha Desai, Director, Children’s Rights in Goa, were some of the other important speakers & respondents gave their presentation during different sessions of the meeting. The entire proceedings of the consultation meeting were recorded by the distinguished print media from the state. A state core committee was constituted for drafting the state policy on voluntary sector in Goa.

17th & 18th March, 2009: Workshop on Good Governance in Civil Society Organisations; Mysore, Karnataka.

VANI organised Southern Regional Workshop on Good Governance in Civil Society Organisations. The objective of the workshop was to educate, sensitise and motivate members of Civil Society Organisations to follow prescribed norms and good practices of Governance and Management. The workshop was attended by around 100 participants from the States in Southern Region of India. Read More...

4th February 2009, South Asia Media Release of the Open Budget Index 2008.

Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA) organised a South Asia Media Release of the Open Budget Index 2008 in New Delhi on 4th February 2009to share the findings of a survey conducted in association with International Budget Partnership, Washington D.C. The survey was conducted across 85 countries to measure their overall commitment to financial transpareny. On the basis of the survey, the Open Budget Index (OBI) ranks countries in terms of their openness of budgets to their citizens and thus allows for comparisons. India’s score of 60 on the OBI 2008 places it 18th out of the 85 countries surveyed. India is among the 27 countries that provide some, albeit incomplete, information to the public on the national budget. The worst offenders, the countries that make scant, if any, information available are: Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Democratic republic of Congo, Sudan, Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome e Principe.

12th February 2009, National Consultation on Effective Implementation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.

Centre for Social research, New Delhi organised a national consultation on Effective Implementation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 on 12th February 2009 to examine the manner in which the law is being implemented. And also look at ways of ensuring the opportunities created by the law reaches the victims of domestic violence through its initiative of “Capicity Building of Service providers, Advocacy and effective Lobbying for Effective Implementation of the PWD Act, 2005”.

2nd March 2009, Book launch of “DEMOCRATIZING GLOBAL GOVERNANCE”; New Delhi

Forum International de Montréal (FIM) is launched its first book: Democratizing Global Governance: Ten Years of Case Studies and Reflections by Civil Society Activists. This book is a compilation of thirteen civil society practitioner case studies and papers spanning ten years of activism from 1998 to 2008. It also critiques civil society methodologies and strategies for advancing the democratization of global governance and offers a new, vision for the future of civil society activism.

The book was released by Shri Nitin Desai, Former Under-Secretary General United Nations in New Delhi. This launch was organised by PRIA in association with Forum International de Montréal (FIM)

17th March 2009: ‘Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Water Management and ‘Rainwater Harvesting’’

Confederation of Indian Industry CII organized a workshop on ‘Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Water Management’ and ‘Rainwater Harvesting’ on 17th March, 2009 in New Delhi. The workshop focused on the Industry’s present interventions and future scope to improve water availability. This workshop was organized in cooperation with the Central Ground Water Board and focused on various aspects related to its implementation.

27th March 2009: Financial Management Service Foundation (FMSF) in association with Credibility Alliance & Murray Culshaw Consulting (MCC) organised ‘CSO Partners’ Outstanding Annual Reports Awards of the Voluntary Sector’

As an effort to promote transparency and accountability within the Not for Profit Sector and promote better standards in financial reporting as well as preparation and presentation of annual report, CSO partners will present the first ever Outstanding Annual Reports Awards of the Voluntary Sector,

The Outstanding Annual Reports Award presented by CSO Partners is an opportunity for civil society to showcase the most important tool of Building Credibility. These awards are celebrations of the brilliant work of the voluntary sector and its engagement with the public.

The awards are for Organizations from various sectors for Excellence and best practices in Annual reporting thereby promoting accountability. The awards were announced on 27th March 2009 in Delhi.

• Workshops, meetings, seminars to enhance civic engagement skills and/or knowledge to build the capacity of the grassroots level actors on RTI and/or Social Audit to strengthen processes of transparency and accountability in service delivery systems in rural areas;
• Networking efforts, innovative activities to increase citizen engagement, empower women leaders to enhance effectiveness, transparency and accountability of local Government (Panchayati Raj Institutions);
• Programs promoting access to information, appropriate communication campaign to influence public service delivery for better, transparent and accountable governance.