I entered the Yeshwantpur railway station to catch my train to Orissa. Tens of people were looking at the digital board to see their train timings and platform number. But, first you have to see 2 minutes of Muthoot Finance ad to be eligible to know about trains. The ultimate level of privatisation, where you have to consume something or buy something to even see the timing of the train.
We see different layers of social services being privatised as per the needs of the international market right under our noses. In education, the implementation of the policies of liberalisation, privatisation, and globalisation has given birth to private institutions like Azim Premji University and Ashoka University. They offer courses that lure many students like me into thinking that enrolling in those will help us contribute to society. These are all run by capitalists who exploit the natural and human resources in the daytime and become ‘good capitalists’ at night by opening NGOs and institutes of higher education. Such institutes churn out workers for NGOs that act as bandages in areas ravaged by the same group of exploiters. After we graduate most of us join different NGOs, thinking we will bring change in society. But first we need to introspect on the role played by these NGOs. Is it actually bringing change? Or is it just optics with everything remaining the same or worse? Are they fighting against the system or just trying to bring small reforms in the system? Who are their beneficiaries? Where are they getting their funds from? Is it from the well wishers or from the exploiters themselves? I will share my experience in this regard.
In our curricular field visit, we went to an NGO that took us to several Adivasi hamlets. There, the people who spoke more were found to be NGO members. They sat on chairs while others sat on mats. They own double the land compared to others. They farm thrice a year. They also have double the number of cattle. Their children go to better schools and get married in well-off families. So, if you don’t focus on these peripheral things, you won’t be able to grasp the whole picture. The small Adivasi farmers still have the same issues that they had before the NGO saviours came. But why don’t they speak up? Is it because they don’t have anything to say or are they intimidated by the NGO people?
Through the NGO, we met a farmer produce company (a collaborator with the NGO), who are working on the ‘Millets Mission’ project by the government because in today’s market the demand for millets has increased. The company supposedly works for the ‘benefits’ of the farmers. Suraj, the CEO of the company told us that the farmers don’t have the ‘knowledge’ of how to increase the production and how to sell it. So, the company helps them by charging them a minimal cost of 1-2 rupees per kg of millets. When enquired later about what the company does with the millets they procure, they said that it is first converted into flour (in the machines provided by the government to Farmer Produce Organization, of which Suraj is a member) and then sells it to the market at Rs.70/kg (they buy the millets at Rs.35/kg from the farmers). So much for the benefits of the farmers. When asked about the role of the state, he says “woh toh hamare maai-baap hain, funding toh wahin se aati hai” (they are like our parents, we get our funding from them)
One NGO member, almost on the verge of tears, told us how it breaks their heart to not stand in support of the people when they protest against mining activities. They have no other choice because if they do, the government will stop funding or maybe even target them. In a lot of cases you will also see that these NGOs are getting funds from the same companies who exploit the natural resources and the locals i.e. the enemies of the people.
In the end, even if you decide to work in these NGOs, just treat it as a 9 to 5 corporate job. Come out of the illusion that you will bring any change through this. If you actually want to contribute to society, organise people on class lines. Tell them who their real enemies are. They already know that these companies are exploiters. Tell them that these NGOs working as a mediator between the people and the company or state are also part of the problem. Take this as an opportunity to be one with the community, by organising them.
