Many of us have the urge to do some thing to the society. The basic reasons could  be

• For  satisfaction

• For spiritual reasons

• To do give back something to the society where from we get everything for our life.

• Charity begins at home!  

• I am a social being .
  I need a society to live in. And I also help the society someway

• I have everything except satisfaction. I think I should do something to my community to get peace of mind.  

• I don’t want to be  a human being. I want to  be more than a human being by understanding and helping othr human beings.  

• MAKKAL THONDE MAHESAN THONDU.  
  Service to mankind is service to God. Let me serve  the visible Human beings.

There are different ways of doing social services. Here are some  professional ways 

As individual volunteers!   

You can do part time (1 day a week, one day a month, 1hour every day, etc.,) or full time voluntary work join some of the field social service organizations and render services in the field you like (eg. Literacy,  Health Awareness, orphanage home visit, talking to the seminar citizens, etc.,) in geographical locations preference by you. For more details to volunteer as individual go to our volunteerism section.  

I have some skills  let me share with others. I have some spare time will spend talking to  some senior citizens instead of visiting a movie theater or  a club.

If you want to do have a full time professional Development work by starting an NGO, here are guidelines to you 

Pre – requisite to start an NGO :

A lot of commitment to a social cause  and  some knowledge on  the issues and causes which you would like to address.

Forming a Social Service Organization

Social Service Organization, Voluntary organization,  Non Government organization, Non profit organization – all are synonymous -  meaning a body which  renders a non profit service to the society.

.This body has to be registered under law to have a legal entity. Advantages of registering a social service organization.

Advantages of incorporation of registration as a legal body

        It gives a legal right to the members to hold property in the name of the organization.

        It means that the legal body can sue and be sued in its own name , and not in the name of the members.

       Any property held can pass from one generation to another without having to pay any transfer fees or taxes and without any cumbersome documentation.

       The properties of an incorporated body can be more easily protected from rival claimants and resulting litigations.

      Numerous benefits are available to an incorporated body , eg. Exemption from various tax laws, land ceiling regulations, approval from the Government, etc.,

     Registrations under the foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act,1976 and the Income Tax Act,1961 are more easily granted if the organization is incorporated.                           

 What are the legal forms of social service organizations?  

A Social Service organization can be registered as a Society or as a trust of also as Non profit company.

Society registration :   A Society has to be registered under Societies Registration Act. This is an all India Act with State modifications (eg. Karnataka Societies registration Act 1960, Tamilnadu Societies registration Act 1975,  Bihar Societies registration Act 1965, are the modified state Acts).

A minimum of seven members have to be in the Governing body and General body. A memorandum of Association by objectives and bye-laws have to be framed and submitted to the registrar of Societies of your registration District.

Registration  of a Charitable Trust : ( under India’s Trust Act 1882)

Minimum 2 members can join and start a Trust. A deed of Trust in times of memorandum of Association, Bye-laws with objectives have to be framed and submitted to the Sub Registrar of your registration District.

(Under Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956)

A minimum of 2 persons can focus and start a non profit company and apply for a license with regional Director of the

Department of company affairs, Ministry of Finance, GOI. These companies are registered without the name as private Limited Company.

 Legal operations of a registered body :

Any registered body whether Society or Trust should abide the laws under which they were registered.  

 The Activities of the Society / Trust should be as per their bye – Laws or MOA

Governing body / General body meetings should be conducted as prescribed in the registration Act.  

Minutes book should be maintained and all meetings discussions and resolutions should be recovered as prescribed by the registration Act.

Registration of a Social Service Organization means Transparency to the Government, to its Donors, to its members and to its target community.

A flow Chart

If you are a committed persons and willing to work for a Social cause.

• Get more information on the issue and causes through reading, discussions with those who are working in the field

• Get like minded people  with interest and ability to spare their free time for the social cause.

• Go for registration a body preparing a vision document with goals and objectives and plan of action of your organization.

• Design a management structure for the Society / Trust.

• Prepare a required documents depending on the type of body you are registering.

• Submit to the concerned registration authority.

• Get other Government benefits by registering under various other acts , Income tax Act, FCRA, etc,.

• Start identifying the Target Groups /issues and plan to organize people , recourses and work towards your objective.

 Registering  your organization under various other acts :

There are other acts, if the organizations are registered under these acts, there are some benefits to the organizations. 

Registration under Income tax Act 1961. This will help to get exemptions on tax for the organizations. There are different sections available for exemption depending on the category of the organization.

Educational Institutions section 10 (22)

Medical Institutions section 10 (22A)

General Charitable Institutions section 10 (23c) (iv) 

There are prescribed formats & eligibility conditions for applying. A legal expert / Auditor may be contacted for more information.

Registering under foreign contribution (Regulation) Act 1976.

This act is to regulate the acceptance of any faring donations either by individuals or by institutions.

Conditions to apply for registration under FCRA

Should preferably be a registered organization.

Existence at least for a minimum period of 3 years

No previous remark on the organization regarding the use of foreign funds without pri   permission.   

Last 3 years activities should be supported by Activity and financial reports

The applications should be sent in the prescribed format FC – 8 along with registered documents to Ministry of Home affairs. A prior permission could also be sought in the absence of FCRA registration.

Please contact a legal expert / an auditor with ample knowledge in the Development sector for more information. 

Contacts /Referrences suggested. 

Contact: TNVRC, for information on various NGOs  working in various fields of activities. And for volunteering.

Tamilnadu corporation for development of women ltd.TNCDW  Updates on Women development project coverage www.tamilnaduwomen.org

TamilnaduVoluntary Health Association, for information on various NGOs  working in the field of health activities. www.tnvha.org 

Tamilnadu AIDS Control society for information on various NGOs  working in the field of  HIV/AIDS Prevention.

Rural Innovations Network to know about the various technological innovations by Rural Entrepreneurs. www.rinovations.org 

Myrada , to know about institution building and participatory learning Methodologies.  www.myrada.org

South India Producers Associations, will help in finding market for the rural products. Phone : 91-44-4352313

Positive Women’s network to know about the discriminated treatment of HIV +ve women in the society.
Their email id is as follows : poswonet@usa.net,
Phone 91-44- 3711176/4717363 

State Women’s Commission to know about the various   legislations preventing Harassment against Women.

CREA  to know about the various   legislations preventing Harassment against Women. Phone: 91-44-2200375 

Refer : THE TAMILNADU SOCITIES REGISTRATION ACT, 1975

Published : C. Sitaraman & Co, Chennai – 14. 
Governance and financial management  in Non-profit Organisations.
Published by CARITAS India.