Perceiving the role of grassroots NGOs: From the new social movement perspective

In recent times, many grassroots micro movements, also known as new social movements (NSMs), have taken off, centring around contemporary issues of importance such as ecology/environment, women empowerment, human rights, sharing of natural resources and the like. Of late, India has also seen a phenomenal growth in non-governmental organisations (NGOs). They have contributed handsomely toward these NSMs through their intense campaigns, people's mobilisation programmes and effective networks. In the light of these, this article posits NGOs as a social force that facilitates collective action and people mobilisation. It discusses how, by deploying various people-oriented as well as people-centric strategies, these organisations build a rapport with them. This has been discussed from the NSM perspective. The article portrays empirically the roles that NGOs play in making the people environmentally aware. Based on empirical data from 40 grassroots environmental NGOs in coastal Orissa, the article discusses at length the various measures employed in building awareness and subsequently empowering them to meet the growing environmental challenges. In a strong civil society, it is people who ultimately have to protect and restore the ecosystems/ environment, for this is the key to the survival of the rural population and a sound environmental future in developing countries like India.