The concept of Regional Resource Centre is grounded on a need-based partnership between the Government and non-Government sectors.

In 1997, the Department of Family Welfare (DoFW), Govt. of India (GoI), introduced the MNGO scheme under RCH programme. Under this scheme, DoFW, GoI identified and sanctioned grants to selected NGOs called Mother NGOs (MNGOs) in allocated districts for promotion of the goals/objectives of the RCH programme. These MNGOs, in turn, issued grants to smaller NGOs, called Field NGOs (FNGOs), in the allocated districts. Towards the end of RCH-I in the year 2002, GoI had identified four national NGOs as RRCs (during 10th Five Year Plan) to provide technical support to the MNGOs, so that they in turn provide support to respective FNGOs. Initially four RRCs were established: CINI (for Eastern and Northeastern states), VHAI (for North India), FPAI (for Western India) and Gandhigram Institute of Health and Family Welfare Trust (for South India). For facilitating coordination and information sharing between RRCs and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI, an Apex Resource Cell (ARC) has been established within the NGO Division of Ministry of H &FW. ARC is responsible for capacity building of RRCs and in turn of the MNGOs, and monitor and reports their functioning to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI,

In February 2002, CINI started its journey as Regional Resource Centre with the responsibility of four Eastern states (West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa) and eight Northeastern states including Sikkim. In all these states, CINI was primarily responsible for training of the MNGOs on NGO guidelines, RCH Service Delivery Components, Baseline Survey and Project Proposal Development as well as facilitating the GO-NGO partnership. 

However, with the launch of NRHM in 2005 and a shift from macro level activities (i.e. focusing on national level issues) to micro level activities (i.e. more involvement of RRCs in to district/block level activities), it became difficult for one RRC to look after so many states. Therefore, considering the workload of RRCs, GoI established another six RRCs during April 2005 in order to ensure more comprehensive support to MNGOs and FNGOs.

According to new jurisdiction set by GoI, CINI-RRC continued to provide support to the states of WB, Orissa, Jharkhand and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. For the states of WB and Orissa, CINI-RRC completed the training of 37 MNGOs on NGO guidelines, Baseline Survey, Proposal Development and RCH technical issues. In April 2006, in order top provide a more intensive support, GoI approved a new RRC for the state of Orissa. 

Capacity building of MNGOs (district based NGOs) to take the challenge of sustaining the GO-NGO partnership and provide services to the unreached for reaching the Health and Family Welfare goals set by the governments at the National and State level. 

Capacity Building

Provide technical assistance for capacity building of MNGOs/FNGOs/SNGOs under NGO scheme, Govt. of India


Publication of the Implementation Guide Book, Vol-II by Commissioner, Dept.of H & FW, WB and Dy. Commissioner, NGO Div., GoI

Providing training support for project development, training in programme and technical areas, dissemination of relevant training and communication material 

NGO Appraisal and Selection

Participate in selection and sanctioning of the MNGO/SNGO projects.

Coordinate with Best Practices Centres (BPCs), the specialized institution to provide technical resources in particular fields like Adolescent Health, Gender Issue etc 

Support to State NGO committee

Facilitate networking and sharing of experiences and lessons learned between Govt. and NGO functionaries.

Conduct/participate in field visits and assist in review of periodic progress reports to assess effectiveness of technical support and training inputs

Providing a platform for advocacy to facilitate GO-NGO networking

Coordinating with GoI

Providing inputs to GoI to enable policy modification/formulation for NGO programmes.

On the spot support to MNGOs/SNGOs/FNGOs and other stakeholders

On the spot support to MNGOs during FNGO trainings

Supportive supervision and field visit to MNGO-FNGO project areas 

Documentation and dissemination of key learnings and innovative approaches

Act as clearing house for training and communication materials, function as knowledge dissemination centre for MNGOs 

Document innovations, disseminate successful approaches and creative strategies in RCH service delivery. 

New jurisdiction for the 11 RRCs from 1st April 2006 looks like: 

Child In Need Institute (CINI)
West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands Contact
Family Planning Association of India (FPAI)
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh
Contact
Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI)
Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Jammu and Kashmir
Contact
Gandhigram Institute of Rural Health & Family Welfare Trust (GIRHFWT)
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Lakshadeep
Contact
Centre for Health, Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness (CHETNA)
Gujarat, Daman & Diu, Dadar & Nagar Haveli
Contact
Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust (HLFPPT)
Andhra Pradesh
Contact
Mamta Health Institute for Mother & Child (MAMTA)
Punjab, Haryana & Chandigarh
Contact
Population Foundation of India (PFI)
Bihar & Chhattisgarh
Contact
State Innovation in Family Planning Services Project Agency (SIFPSA)
Uttar Pradesh
Contact
Assam Voluntary Health Association (VHAA)
Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim
Contact
Swastha Sikhya - The State Society for Health and Family Welfare Education
Orissa
Contact

Coming to the end of RCH-I Programme many lessons have been learnt, that needs much overhauling though flexible, cohesive and strategic planning to effectively reach the national long-term goals. Among them the most important is the strategic mode of functioning of NGOs that was clearly spelt out in the line of awareness generation. In RCH-II a complete paradigm shift has been brought through introducing the service delivery component in the MNGO scheme. With the learnings from RCH-I a decentralized approach is adopted in the management and implementation of the MNGO scheme. This implies, starting from identification of NGOs, recommending the proposals for GoI approval, the State RCH Society takes the responsibility. The MNGOs are members of the District RCH Society. The role of Govt. of India is one of policy guidance, approvals, and funding and technical support.

This is envisaged by involving NGOs to work in areas that are un-served or under-served areas which are socio-economically backward, and do not have access to health care services from the existing govt. health infrastructure.

With the launch of National Rural Health Mission [NRHM] (12th April 2005) the entire country now seeks to provide effective health care to the entire rural population in the country with special focus on 18 states (including the EAG states) that have weak public health indicators. As an umbrella programme that integrates all vertical health and family welfare programmes (including RCH) NRHM seeks for optimal utilization of resources and strengthening delivery mechanism. With decentralization right from the district level down to the village level it seeks to improve access of rural people, especially poor women and children to equitable, affordable, accountable and effective primary health care. Convergence of related departments (including Panchayeti Raj Institutions) is charted out as one of the key strategies of NRHM.

Role of NGOs in NRHM:

1. Included in institutional arrangement at National, State and District levels, including Standing Mentoring Group for ASHA
2. Member of Task Groups
3. Provision of Training, BCC and Technical Support for ASHAs/ DHM
4. Health Resource Organizations
5. Service delivery for identified population groups on select themes
6. For monitoring, evaluation and social audit

In RCH-II according to guidelines provided by Government of India, each MNGO was be allotted only one (at most two) district to work with. Jurisdiction of FNGOs was limited to the service area of the selected unserved or underserved sub-centre areas resided by the concerned districts.