What is civil society ? Civil society

 What is civil society ? 

Civil society is a voluntary and independent group of people of different sectors formed with the purpose of achieving certain objective. It is the aggregate of non-governmental organizations and institutions that manifest interests and will of citizens. It is voluntary, self mobilized, self directed and organized social life style. Civil society is a forum where different social communities have discussion and get organized. It is a common platform to express the wants, assumptions, and commitments of citizens. It is a non-governmental and non-profiteering movement which is active in every aspect of social life. It helps the people in various aspects. 

Civil society is found to be developed during Lichchhavi period in Nepal. It even had played important role in the unification of Nepal. At present, civil society is active in the development of democratic environment, maintaining good governance , development of self-reliance and empowerment of women and minority community. The contribution of civil society is highly appreciable in the protection and promotion of democracy. However, it is complained that the civil society is weak in Nepal and its roles are not as much expected.

Characteristics of Civil Society

• It aims at manifesting the expression of human sense of the society.
• It does not aim to make profit from its work.
• It focuses on social awareness and mobilization remaining away from the politics. 
• It is a motivation launched by the individuals who are disciplined and who respect the spirit of laws.
• It is different than government but concerned with the functions of the government.
• It is the group which  conducts programs for the welfare of neglected and lower level class people with their own participation.

Objectives of Civil Society

• To accept the social happenings in critical form by interpreting the government's policy and taking fixed decision.
• To build a platform for the social values, assumptions, wishes needs and expressions of commitments.
• To construct a network abided by the collective feeling for the social purpose.
• To develop and extend the participatory system as an alternative measures for development.
• To promote the skill and efficiency required to upgrade the lifestyle of people

Roles of Civil Society

• It helps to develop the various aspects of good governance.
• It helps to assure the economic security, land reform, gender equality and social rights.
• It helps to formulate laws suitable for social empowerment and participation.
• It helps to maintain social unity and solve the challenges of development.
• It provides the necessary knowledge and skills to the citizens so that they can help the government's efforts for the development.
• It helps in the development of transparency, decentralization and pluralism approach. 
• It express the interest and benefits of those who have been excluded politically, socially and economically.
• It makes the politician, industrialist, and businessman and other classes of the state accountable towards the people.

Roles and  Responsibilities of Civil Society in different countries 

• To encourage the people for participation in the campaign for transforming from dependence to self-dependence.
• To be active for making the capital, resource, means and technology of the country public oriented.
• To raise the voice for solving the existing challenges of political perversion.
• To adjust the society in the social norms and values.
• To help in the development of skill and efficiency in the society so that the people fulfill their needs by their own efforts.