Voluntary Sector

Understanding the Voluntary Sector

The term voluntary is derived from the fact that the early efforts of the voluntary sector had their genesis in charity, philanthropy and relief activities, driven by the sector’s belief in selfless service to the society.

In the current scenario, the nomenclature for the voluntary sector includes terms like non-government organizations (NGOs), non-profit organizations or not-for-profit organizations (NPOs), civil society organizations (CSOs) or the third sector. These terms are generally used when these institutions are incorporated under the local laws of registration. Along with these formal entities, the voluntary sector also includes informal, unregistered grouping of people coming together for a common cause, like community-based organizations, traditional groups, social movements and social activists. It also includes networks of the formal and informal groups, as well as professional and membership associations.

One way to understand the voluntary sector is from the type of functions formed by the different organizations covered under its ambit. An important cluster of organizations within the voluntary sector are those [Page 810]organizations which primarily provide basic services to the poor and marginalized, in areas like education, health or sanitation. The second group of organizations in the sector includes those who are involved in awareness generation and organizing work with vulnerable groups, which includes providing information to the marginalized about their entitlements under the law or the provisions under the various government-sponsored schemes. The third category includes groups which are involved in research and advocacy endeavours. They provide feedback to policymakers and negotiate with and on behalf of the excluded. There are also groups which define themselves as support institutions, providing either financial or technical support to the above groups so that they can undertake their interventions in an effective manner.

The varied interventions and innovations in the voluntary sector have been grounded in and facilitated by action research and its related approaches of Participatory Action Research and participatory research. Participatory approaches are used at different stages of the development programmes to mobilize and sensitize the community, advocate for the rights of the marginalized and facilitate action research interventions by the constituents of the voluntary sector.

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