BENGALURU: Karnataka may soon have a legislation to regulate non-governmental organizations. The Internal Security division (ISD) of state police has recommended a separate legal set-up to regulate and keep a tab on NGOs, some of which get foreign funds.
In a 1,300-page report submitted to the home department and the legislature, ISD has recommended bringing NGOs under the ambit of the state government by asking them to register and get a licence for operating in the state.
Sources, who were privy to the report preparation, said the government has "incomplete" data on nearly 15,000 trusts in the state and around 60,000 NGOs in Karnataka. The NGOs include associations, societies, self-help groups which get funds from donors.
The investigation, which was referred to the ISD by then home minister KJ George in July 2014 after senior Congress MLA KR Ramesh Kumar raised the issue in the assembly, provided details of foreign and domestic funding in the state. As per conservative estites of the ISD, funding is mates of the ISD, funding is around Rs 800 crore as per data compiled by the ministry of home affairs. Barring a few NGOs, including Samaj Parivartana Samudaya which sent a letter to the ISD stating it would reveal funding information to only relevant investigating agencies and not to any state agency, most other trusts and societies have given partial information of their funding for 201112, 2012-13 and 2013-14. The report speaks of only 2,422 NGOs which have been recorded by the MHA as receiving foreign funds on its website, and a few others whose registration was done in Karnataka.
Sources state the ISD, however, has confidentially secured funding details of SPS. The highest foreign donations have been received by Christian missionaries in Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and other parts of southern Karnataka. The ISD report suggests the government must consider setting up a separate directorate for keep a tab on NGOs in the state. Sources state the ISD asked the government to appoint a high-ranking IPS officer for the directorate and give the ISD a prominent role in investigating the NGOs.400 NGOs' records The Internal Security Division, during its investigation into NGOs and their donors' list and operations, sent a list of 400 trusts, societies and associations to the revenue department to update the data. Sources said the information and registration records of these NGOs don't have updated information and the district registrars need to collate the data and keep a watch on their activities.
Times View
The proposed legislation to keep a tab on NGOs sounds good on paper and could help the government crack down on unscrupulous outfits which, in the name of charity, collect money from unsuspecting donors and use it for their personal use. However, there should be enough checks and balances to ensure that the law is not misused by over-zealous officials to harass genuine do-gooders. Funding of these outfits is a contentious issue and the law must be used judiciously to monitor the flow of money from overseas. The law is welcome but it should not hinder good work.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/New-legislation-on-the-cards-to-regulate-NGOs/articleshow/50197328.cms
In a 1,300-page report submitted to the home department and the legislature, ISD has recommended bringing NGOs under the ambit of the state government by asking them to register and get a licence for operating in the state.
Sources, who were privy to the report preparation, said the government has "incomplete" data on nearly 15,000 trusts in the state and around 60,000 NGOs in Karnataka. The NGOs include associations, societies, self-help groups which get funds from donors.
The investigation, which was referred to the ISD by then home minister KJ George in July 2014 after senior Congress MLA KR Ramesh Kumar raised the issue in the assembly, provided details of foreign and domestic funding in the state. As per conservative estites of the ISD, funding is mates of the ISD, funding is around Rs 800 crore as per data compiled by the ministry of home affairs. Barring a few NGOs, including Samaj Parivartana Samudaya which sent a letter to the ISD stating it would reveal funding information to only relevant investigating agencies and not to any state agency, most other trusts and societies have given partial information of their funding for 201112, 2012-13 and 2013-14. The report speaks of only 2,422 NGOs which have been recorded by the MHA as receiving foreign funds on its website, and a few others whose registration was done in Karnataka.
Sources state the ISD, however, has confidentially secured funding details of SPS. The highest foreign donations have been received by Christian missionaries in Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and other parts of southern Karnataka. The ISD report suggests the government must consider setting up a separate directorate for keep a tab on NGOs in the state. Sources state the ISD asked the government to appoint a high-ranking IPS officer for the directorate and give the ISD a prominent role in investigating the NGOs.400 NGOs' records The Internal Security Division, during its investigation into NGOs and their donors' list and operations, sent a list of 400 trusts, societies and associations to the revenue department to update the data. Sources said the information and registration records of these NGOs don't have updated information and the district registrars need to collate the data and keep a watch on their activities.
Times View
The proposed legislation to keep a tab on NGOs sounds good on paper and could help the government crack down on unscrupulous outfits which, in the name of charity, collect money from unsuspecting donors and use it for their personal use. However, there should be enough checks and balances to ensure that the law is not misused by over-zealous officials to harass genuine do-gooders. Funding of these outfits is a contentious issue and the law must be used judiciously to monitor the flow of money from overseas. The law is welcome but it should not hinder good work.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/New-legislation-on-the-cards-to-regulate-NGOs/articleshow/50197328.cms
