Abstract for presentation at Global Social Work 2004

The voluntary sector also referred as Non- Profit or Third sector in India is now gaining recognition as provider of social security to protect poor, vulnerable, marginalized sections of the society. Unfortunately, there is no distinctive law or policy to ensure social security for these persons working in this sector. Some large size and financially sound non profit organizations (NPO) have its own personnel policies but the numbers of such organization are too small. Though there are various NPOs working in India, and many of them neither had capability nor knowledge about social security programme. A few of them are providing social security to the persons working in these organizations is also up-to limited extent. This means that social security providers are deprived for their own social security.
The study was conducted to explore the social security needs and measures for persons working with NPOs. Based on 20 NPOs working in city of Delhi, the study found that an average employee working in the NPO is middle aged, educated family person with responsibility of family members. S/he belongs to middle class, with problems of single earning member family having average income of Rs 8000/-, and his/her job, though full time, yet not permanent. Persons working in NPOs are no different than any industrial worker or a wage earner, medical, sickness. The need of secured job (job security) has been found most dominated. There is no retirement benefit for persons working in NPOs. Though formally they retire at the age of 50 or 60, but they continue to work in one or other form. Their salaries appointments as well as salaries are not fixed. NPOs do not demand the social security benefits to the funding agencies to keep the cost as low project. In order to ensure social security to the persons working in the non-profit sector is not easy an attitudinal change and creation of the system is required. There is a need of separate comprehensive legislation.