13. Indian NGOs and Their Role of Networking

The aim of this study is to scrutinize Indian NGOs working in Dharamsala and to concentrate on the role of their networking—especially with other NGOs, but also with other actors, such as the state and donors. Methodologically, the study is based on interviews and observations made in Dharamsala. Networking may bring several benefits to the organizations; the study exposes characteristics of the cooperation of the NGOs. It is interesting to point out the collaborative functioning of Indian and Tibetan NGOs along with the two ethnic communities in Dharamsala area. The quality of the cooperation between them affects the operation of the NGOs itself, but also the co-existence of the two communities. Most of the NGOs interviewed are working in health and social sector and concentrating a lot to the very poorest and most marginalized people. The NGOs interviewed are networking mostly locally and widely among each other. There is a division between the NGOs that get money from the state and the ones who do not, and also between the Indian and Tibetan NGOs and their ethnic communities. For further studies, concentrating on the points of views of the beneficiaries of the NGOs under the study would be useful.