The government on Tuesday informed Lok Sabha that certain NGOs receiving funds from abroad hold campaigns against critical operations like nuclear power plants and mining, affecting the progress of the country.
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told the lower that some NGOs have been barred from receiving funds from abroad without the prior approval of the home ministry.
The minister said the CBI was investigating 23 cases related to NGOs while nine more were being investigated by the state police. “Activities of some foreign-funded NGOs were directed against interests of the country,” he said. On amending the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) — which enables NGO’s to accept foreign funds — he said a holistic view is required on the issue.
The government has either issued or is in the process of issuing notices to 10,343 NGOs registered under FCRA that have not filed annual returns for any of the financial years — 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12. Of these, 1441 NGOs are registered in Andhra Pradesh, 1110 in Tamil Nadu and 1167 in Uttar Pradesh.
Rijiju said the home ministry has introduced a penalty for late filing of returns from April, 2013. “Associations that default in filing the returns or do not file the returns will face penal action,” he said.
Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/no-foreign-funds-for-ngos-without-approval/article1-1292620.aspx
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told the lower that some NGOs have been barred from receiving funds from abroad without the prior approval of the home ministry.
The minister said the CBI was investigating 23 cases related to NGOs while nine more were being investigated by the state police. “Activities of some foreign-funded NGOs were directed against interests of the country,” he said. On amending the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) — which enables NGO’s to accept foreign funds — he said a holistic view is required on the issue.
The government has either issued or is in the process of issuing notices to 10,343 NGOs registered under FCRA that have not filed annual returns for any of the financial years — 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12. Of these, 1441 NGOs are registered in Andhra Pradesh, 1110 in Tamil Nadu and 1167 in Uttar Pradesh.
Rijiju said the home ministry has introduced a penalty for late filing of returns from April, 2013. “Associations that default in filing the returns or do not file the returns will face penal action,” he said.
Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/no-foreign-funds-for-ngos-without-approval/article1-1292620.aspx
