Introduction

The term “civil society” is ambiguous. It is used so frequently, in so many various ways, and in so
many diverse theoretical, practical, and historical settings that current attempts to apply it to
democratic philosophy are more obfuscating than informative. Nancy Rosenblum and Robert
Post try to define a notion of civil society that encompasses the many civil society conceptions
argued by its authors (Rosenblum & Post, 2002b). When examined through the lens of the
Government, civil society is defined as a realm of social existence marked by numerous and
particularist identities. The Government, on the other hand, is an inclusive domain
characterized by overarching public norms created and enforced by official institutions when
viewed from the standpoint of civil society. Individuals and organizations can form their
standards, articulate their goals, and determine for themselves the internal structure of group
authority and identity in civil society, which is a zone of freedom.

The World Economic Forum has described “Civil Society” as the “area outside of the family,
market, and state.”

Body

Civil society is defined as “all sorts of social action carried out by individuals or organizations
who are neither related to nor managed by the state” – European Union.

“The voluntary expression of citizens’ interests and ambitions, structured and unified by
common aims, values, or traditions, and mobilized into collective action, is what civil society is.”
– African Development Bank.

Types of Civil Society

NGO

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and Non-Profit

Organizations (NPOs) have a structured structure or activity and are typically registered entities
and groups. States with limited resources and afflicted by weak administration and corruption
have failed to bring progress to all of their populations throughout the developing globe.
Alternative kinds of development have been attempted in this setting, and Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) have increasingly been championed as a means of bridging the gap
between citizens’ wants and existing services since the 1980s. Professional associations are part
of NGOs.

Alternative channels of service provision and/or holding governments accountable must be

found where states are unable to provide sufficient goods, services, or enabling environments
to assist citizens in securing livelihoods, or where disadvantaged groups are excluded from
existing state institutions. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and International NGOs
neatly fit into this void.

However, early criticisms of NGOs linger, and their activities have been focused on service
delivery rather than campaigning and empowerment.

Labour Union

A labour union is a group of workers in a specific trade, industry, or corporation who negotiate
collectively with the employer for their salary, benefits, and working conditions. A labour union,
sometimes known as a “trade union” or a “worker’s union,” selects representatives to negotiate
with employers in a process known as collective bargaining. Bargaining results in an agreement
that specifies working conditions for a set length of time if it is successful.

Two focus sessions with civil society, one on a human rights-based approach to development
and the other on the role of the private sector in development, will feature trade unions.

Major Labour Unions and their Political Affiliation

1. All India Trade Union Congress – Communist Party of India.

2. Center for Indian Trade Unions – CPI(M).

3. Hind Mazdoor Sabha – Samajwadi Party.

4. Self Employed Women’s Association – Unaffiliated

5. Indian National Trade Union Congress – Indian National Congress.

6. Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh – Bharatiya Janata Party.

Community Organization

Community organization, also known as a community-based organization, is a type of planning

that aims to improve a community’s social health, well-being, and general functioning.
Geographically, psychosocially, culturally, spiritually, and digitally bounded communities form
Civil communities. Community work, community projects, community development, community
empowerment, community building, and community mobilization are all examples of
community organization. It’s a popular concept for organizing community inside community
initiatives, neighborhoods, organizations, voluntary groups, locales, and social networks, and it
can be utilized to organize people around geography, shared space, shared experience, interest,
need, and/or concern.

Siddiqui developed a set of principles on evidence-based indigenous community organization

strategies in 1997.
  Movement with a Purpose

 Detailed Panning

 People’s Active Participation

 A Multi-Group Approach

 The Operation of the Democratic System

 An Adaptable Organization

 Taking advantage of Available Resources

 Orientation to Culture

Self Help Groups

Self Help Groups are groups of 10-20 people in a locality formed for any social or economic
purpose. Most of the SHGs are formed for the purpose of better financial security among their
members. SHGs can exist with or without registration. In India, there are around 1 Crore SHGs
with active bank links, involving approximately 10 Crore people. The total bank balance of SHGs
in India is over Rs.7000 Crores and 90% of SHGs are run by women. Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) that have wide anti-poverty agendas sometimes create self-help groups.
Self-help groups are viewed as tools for achieving goals such as empowering women, building
leadership skills among the poor and needy, increasing school enrollment, and improving
nutrition and birth control use. Financial intermediation is typically viewed as a stepping stone
to these other goals rather than a fundamental goal. This may stymie their development as
sources of village capital, as well as their efforts to federate locally managed pools of capital, as
credit unions have done in the past.

Faith-Based Organizations

A faith-based organization is one of the types of civil society. A faith-based organization is one
whose values are founded on faith and/or beliefs, one whose mission is based on the social
values of a specific faith, and one whose activists (leaders, staff, and volunteers) are most
typically drawn from that faith group. The faith with which the organization is associated does
not have to be classed as a religion by academics. Because it includes non-congregational
religious beliefs, the phrase “faith-based organization” is more inclusive than “religious
organization.”

Communities are also recognizing the importance of bringing faith-based organizations to the
table when it comes to community health planning. Faith-based organizations are dependable,
long-lasting, and frequently the community’s most trusted institutions. They are associated with
practically every cultural and ethnic group, and they frequently serve as a gathering place for
huge groups of people.

Conclusion

Voter education, electoral reforms, and periodic spotlighting of elected officials’ performance or
non-performance should all be high on types of civil society’s agenda.

A strong and vigilant civil society can serve as a deterrent to corruption and a foundation for
counter-measures. With the support of a free press, corruption can be avoided, monitored, and
regulated. To encourage increased participation of civil society and the commercial sector in the
government decision-making process, information and communication technology (ICT) is being
used in governance systems. Not just the politics of the vote, but also the politics of the voice,
must be respected by the state. Democracy’s promises can only be realized through civil society
collaboration. A democratic civil society demands a democratic state, and a democratic state
necessitates a democratic civil society. They reinforce each other.