NGO REGISTRATION

How to register an NGO

In a rapidly developing country such as India, NGOs (non-governmental organizations) are increasingly playing a balancing role between the state and citizens to ensure the latter‘s easy access to fundamental rights and state/central government‘s developmental schemes. Being an interface between the common people and government administration, an NGO‘s role in streamlining the services for the masses is vital for the healthy functioning of any democracy. Kick starting an NGO requires an understanding of certain procedures and laws. This week we take you through the procedure for setting up and registering an NGO in Goa.

Legislation

NGOs in India are registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, which is a central Act. According to Section 20 of the Act, the following societies can be registered: charitable societies, military orphan funds or societies, societies established for the promotion of science, literature, or the fine arts, for instruction, the diffusion of useful knowledge, the diffusion of political education, the foundation or maintenance of libraries or reading rooms for general use among the members or open to the public, or public museums and galleries of paintings and other works of art, collection of natural history, mechanical and philosophical inventions, instruments or designs. In Goa objectives other than these are also allowed.