Chennai: The reduction in foreign funding for non-government organisations that once brought glory to India has affected their chances of working with other organizations, academicians and intellectuals, said Dr Vikram Patel, senior psychiatrist of Harvard Medical School .
Until the early 1990s, Indian govt allowed NGOs to accept foreign aid as they could reach places that were difficult for the govt to go to.But things changed with liberalisation. “Investments were allowed in stock markets, private companies, and establishments. But any assistance to NGOs was looked upon as suspect,” he said at the 40th year celebrations of Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF) on Saturday.
The situation has left most NGOs depending on CSR funds, but corporates may want them cut down on administrative costs, reducing their engagement with civic society, he said.
Earlier, WHO former chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan said repercussions of Covid-19, economic burden, climate change and wars were affecting mental health. “Surveys are increasingly revealing that people in the 18-30 age group have high levels of anxiety and depression although historically they were considered most positive. Sadly, there are few people on the ground to deal with this,” she said.
Mental health can affect anyone, said Dr V Mohan, who heads Madras Diabetes Research Foundation. TNN
Until the early 1990s, Indian govt allowed NGOs to accept foreign aid as they could reach places that were difficult for the govt to go to.But things changed with liberalisation. “Investments were allowed in stock markets, private companies, and establishments. But any assistance to NGOs was looked upon as suspect,” he said at the 40th year celebrations of Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF) on Saturday.
The situation has left most NGOs depending on CSR funds, but corporates may want them cut down on administrative costs, reducing their engagement with civic society, he said.
Earlier, WHO former chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan said repercussions of Covid-19, economic burden, climate change and wars were affecting mental health. “Surveys are increasingly revealing that people in the 18-30 age group have high levels of anxiety and depression although historically they were considered most positive. Sadly, there are few people on the ground to deal with this,” she said.
Mental health can affect anyone, said Dr V Mohan, who heads Madras Diabetes Research Foundation. TNN