Difference Between NGO and SHG
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: November 14th, 2023
The major difference between NGO and SHG is that SHG is not mentioned in the Article of India, but NGO has specific mention. A country like India has large sections of society vulnerable to poverty, unemployment, financial distress, domestic abuse, and other issues. SHGs or Self-Help Groups and NGOs or Non-Governmental Organizations majorly address these issues through life-changing humanitarian aid and interventions.
Difference Between NGO and SHG PDF
NGOs play a meaningful part in nurturing SHGs. NGOs occasionally conduct aptitude internship programs for SHGs to foster leadership qualities and income-generating actions. Though both types of organizations aim to help the vulnerable sections of society, their approaches, structure, and activities are very different. Let’s explore the difference between NGO and SHG and how they impact society.
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Difference Between NGO and SHG
The important difference Between NGO and SHG is that SHGs have a limited number of participants from a specific geographical location but do not have such constraints to the NGOs. The common goal of SHG and NGOs is resolving social crises. Let us now see the comparison of SHG and NGO in detail.
NGO and SHG
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Difference Between NGO and SHG |
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SHGs |
NGOs |
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SHG is an independent entity legally accountable to any official body. They are formed on the principle of Article 19 (1), according to which citizens are free to form a group without registering it. |
An NGO is more organized and must legally register under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. |
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SHGs in India are mobilized mainly by women with similar socio-economic backgrounds to support each other socially, economically, and collaboratively. |
While some NGOs aim to support women, they span many issues and areas – from child welfare and animal rights to disaster relief and sustainability. |
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Members of SHGs raise funding by pooling their personal resources to fund various projects that support members and their families. |
NGOs raise funding from individuals, corporate and independent donors, and via crowdfunding to fund various initiatives. |
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SHGs do not have any specific act under which they file income tax. Members are taxed as individuals. |
NGOs file income tax under Section 12A and may have access to some tax exemptions based on their tax bracket. |
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The scope of SHGs is to transform the lives of its members and their communities. |
NGOs can create a regional, national or global impact based on their scale. |
NGO and SHG
SHGs and NGOs work on common ground: the rights of people. The level of work may differ as per their functioning, but they work towards the same goals. The NGOs are governed, whereas SHGs are not. The number of participants in the SHGs is relatively less than the number of participants in NGOs.
What is NGO?
NGO is an acronym for Non-Governmental Organizations. This is a society created by individuals to serve a specific cause or set of causes. The presence of NGOs has had a transformative impact on society, especially in supporting the vulnerable sections of society and addressing issues that impact the world on a global scale.
- Unlike businesses, NGOs do not have business models that make profits.
- They raise funds through donors and leverage them to support their flagship causes.
- NGOs are run through core teams of employees and armies of volunteers who feel passionate about the cause of the NGO.
What is SHG?
SHG is an acronym for a Self-Help Group, an informal, self-governed collection of individuals from a village or district from similar socio-economic backgrounds. The aim is to raise their socio-economic status through collaborative activities planned and executed by the members.
- Activities include starting a self-created banking system, hosting financial literacy workshops, skills training, etc.
- SHGs have emerged as one of the most powerful tools in India for women to upskill, build financial savvy, develop a healthcare ecosystem, and drive a change in their communities.
- The impact of SHGs in India includes reducing poverty, improving food security, and women’s economic empowerment.
Conclusion:
Key Difference Between NGO and SHG
The key difference between NGO and SHG is that NGO stands for Non-Governmental Organizations comprising individuals who serve a particular cause or bunch of causes; in contrast, SHG stands for Self-Help Group, a self-governed group of people from comparable socio-economic backgrounds.
