Abstract

After independence, the role of NGO’s is commendable in India and other developing countries and this is because of the inability of the government in delivering the services to the targeted people. The non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or voluntary organizations (VOs) have been working for the betterment of the rural poor especially the downtrodden communities namely: SCs and STs. The NGO’s works and activities focus on issues and people beyond their own and membership. On this background  this paper mainly deals with how RDO and NGOs in Niligiris District in Tamilnadu are providing commendable services to the tribal of the district in the areas of health, education, poverty eradication, rural credit, community development, woman empowerment, gender discrimination through SHGs emergency relief and income generation activities so as to protect the tribes from all forms of exploitations namely: indebtedness, land alienation, abolition or intermediaries, woman atrocities etc., and make them aware of the welfare and developmental activities delivered either by the government or by the non-governmental organizations.

Key words: Non-governmental organization, self helped group, voluntary organization, SC, ST.