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| Legitimacy |
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| Legality and Gaining Legitimacy |
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"Accountability and transparency are key issues in governance, and the voluntary sector is expected to set benchmarks in this regard. Accountability to funding sources, though important, is not enough, and greater emphasis should be placed on social accountability to the stakeholders. Recognising the diversity of entities comprising the voluntary sector and the undesirability of specifying uniform standards for all, VOs shall be encouraged to evolve their own codes of conduct and governance standards. These should be appropriately notified and given publicity by the federating or network organisations along with disclosure and reporting procedures."
(Extracted from the Draft National Policy on the Voluntary Sector, 2003, Planning Commission, Government of India.) |
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| In the latter part of the 80's, under the aegis of the Planning Commission, there was an attempt to initiate a code of conduct that brings forth issues of governance, transparency and process of accountability, in the voluntary sector. The attempt encountered resistance from large sections of the voluntary sector because of its non-participatory nature. The voluntary organisations had then committed themselves to come together and evolve their own norms through a participatory manner. |
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| However, even today, voluntary organisations have remained largely unregulated. The role of Credibility Alliance is to carry on the mandate it has gained from a large number of organisations over a period of two years; to evolve norms for the sector through principles of self-disclosure and in a participatory manner. Thus, good governance practices gain legitimacy. |
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| Credibility Alliance envisages a critical role in legitimising norms of good governance for the sector while sustaining the sector's autonomy. |
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