NIjera Kori has a three pronged unique and democratic system of Governance.
- The legal governance structure as a registered body.
Nijera Kori is registered with the Department of Social Welfare, The Societies Registration Act and the NGO Affairs Bureau. As per its Constitution, the organisation has a 39 member General Body who hold an Annual General Meeting to approve its Annual Reports, Audit etc. The overall governance process is managed by its 13-member Governing Body elected by the General Body. The Governing Body meets quarterly to appraise activities and finances for that quarter and approve the next quarter’s budget. However the overall implementation and proposed policies lie in a democratic system developed by all staff, which is then approved by the Governing Body. The staff in turn is fed by the groups that have been formed at the grassroots level. As per prevailing rules of any registered organisation, the overall governance of the organisation rests with the 39 member ‘General Body,’ which meets annually to review, approve and confirm regular matters of the organisation such as its Annual Report, the External Audit Report, Annual Plan and Budget. The General Body consists of 39 members from diverse backgrounds and disciplines as its General Members. The General Body is responsible for overall approval of the matters of the organisation and elects a 13 member Governing Body, every two years.
The 13 member Governing Body meets quarterly. They review and approve the quarterly reports, expenditure statements and quarterly budgets. Any decision that needs approval in the overall running of the organisation is given by this body. The Secretary who is also the appointed Coordinator is responsible to the Board, and is the link between the democratic structure of its staff, the landless organisations and the Governing Body. The three bodies are thus interlinked and influence the overall nature and programmes of the organisation.
The core value of Nijera Kori’s management structure and decision-making system is guided by the philosophy of ‘participatory democracy’. In relation to the legally required body governing Nijera Kori, the main operational decision-making body of the organisation is the staff of the organisation. The central feature being its Central Staff Convention, which is held every alternate year and attended by all staff of Nijera Kori. Here they constitute a three-tier council for two years for overall management and coordination by electing their representatives (except the coordinator) from among the staff. These councils are 1) Anchal Parishad (Area Council), 2) Bibhagiya Parishad (Divisional Council) and 3) Nirbahi Parishad (Central Executive Council). The overall activities of Nijera Kori are planned and monitored through weekly sub-centre meeting, monthly anchal parishad meeting, bimonthly divisional parishad meeting, quarterly nirbahi parishad meeting, annual divisional staff convention and finally at central staff convention/council. On behalf of the above councils the Coordinator regularly consults the Governing Body. For linking the grassroots, on the other hand, each area office has 3-4 sub-centres, which are made up of female and male field staff. They, through living collectively in a centre in the field, manage the activities of Nijera Kori along with the landless people. The landless groups themselves have their own structure for group activities.
