When crises are systemic: the response of the third sector in India

• In Event: Civil society in times of crisis

Abstract

India, over the past 75 years, has witnessed enormous economic growth, and a significant development in (industrial) infrastructure, and it is now the world’s sixth biggest economy (ETOnline, 2022). Even though it seems to have tapered off slightly in recent years, the economic development, especially since the early 1990s, has changed India’s status from low-income country to a middle-income country. However, this growth has not necessarily translated in universal social development within the entire country, nor for the entire population. On the contrary, the increased economic prowess of India has resulted in increased and persistent inequality (Aiyar & Ebeke, 2020; Chakraborty, 2010; Dholakia, 2003; Hossen & Khondker, 2020).

The lack of inclusive, or universal, social development can be witnessed both in rural and in urban parts of India, and the Indian state has since long relied on the third sector to fill continuous gaps or prolonged shortfalls in service delivery (Kavi Kumar & Selvanathan, 2021; Khalid et al., 2021; Saccone & Valli, 2009). Third sector organizations (TSOs) are operational in all states of India, and their activities address many issues including education, literacy, nutrition, healthcare, economic empowerment, and advocacy. Not only that, third sector organizations in India have also been called upon time and again to provide relief in case of emergencies. The most recent crises, whether they were local level crises or national level like the Covid-19 pandemic, have been no different (Devi & Govt, 2013; Srivastava & Paliwal, 2013; Wagh, 2021).

While the positive contributions of third sector organizations to social, economic, and political development have been amply documented, and the state continues to rely extensively on the sector (Agarwal, 2021; Devi & Govt, 2013; Singh, 2018; Sundaram, 2012; Wagh, 2021), it is exactly that sector that keeps coming under fire from the state. The state in India has increasingly been limiting the provisions for civil society action or TSOs space. Many of the “crises” that third sector organizations are facing have in fact been embedded in revised laws and regulations and thus become systemic and cannot easily be resolved.
So, not only has the sector an ongoing role to play in fighting crises for the state, and structural challenges that large parts of society are facing, but it also needs to confront its own crises caused by the state at the same time. Continuing to contribute to sustainable and inclusive development becomes more difficult if the sustainability of sector itself, or at least of parts of it, is at stake (Bhadra, 2023; Bidwai, 2015; Bornstein & Sharma, 2016; Chaney, 2020; Chowdhury & Rosencranz, 2021; Dadrawala, 2019; DasGupta, 2021; Singh, 2021; Srinath, 2022; Tandon & Aravind, 2021).

Using literature review and case studies this paper analyzes the various ways that the third sector in India continues to withstand these structural challenges, largely caused by the state, while continuing to operate as and when needed.

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Author

• Linda van der Wijk, School of Global Studies, Thammasat University