NEW DELHI: Over 700 civil society organisations from across the country have opposed the use of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) to target organisations working on human rights issues and with marginalised communities. Since last year foreign funding to NGOs has dropped by half to Rs 7,600 crore in 2014-2015 and over 10,500 NGOs have had their licences suspended.
FCRA law regulates foreign funding to organisations in India. The ministry of home affairs cancelled the FCRA registration of over 9,000 organisations last year for not filing mandatory returns regarding receipt and use of foreign funding.
Describing the use of FCRA to target organisations as a "worrisome trend" Voluntary Action Network of India's Mathew Cherian said "we are today witnessing a concerted attempt being made by the state to use the FCRA law to erode the credibility of leading and highly reputed NGOs." Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative's Venkatesh Nayak said that while the government was hounding NGOs on technical grounds, it has approved an amendment permitting political parties to receive funding from foreign companies. "This is against the objectives of the FCRA law which is to insulate political parties and the electoral process from foreign business interests."
Lawyers Collective's Anand Grover said, "since our licence has been suspended we have not been able to pay our employees. We plan to challenge the suspension".
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Civil-society-slams-use-of-FCRA-to-target-NGOs/articleshow/52696519.cms
FCRA law regulates foreign funding to organisations in India. The ministry of home affairs cancelled the FCRA registration of over 9,000 organisations last year for not filing mandatory returns regarding receipt and use of foreign funding.
Describing the use of FCRA to target organisations as a "worrisome trend" Voluntary Action Network of India's Mathew Cherian said "we are today witnessing a concerted attempt being made by the state to use the FCRA law to erode the credibility of leading and highly reputed NGOs." Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative's Venkatesh Nayak said that while the government was hounding NGOs on technical grounds, it has approved an amendment permitting political parties to receive funding from foreign companies. "This is against the objectives of the FCRA law which is to insulate political parties and the electoral process from foreign business interests."
Lawyers Collective's Anand Grover said, "since our licence has been suspended we have not been able to pay our employees. We plan to challenge the suspension".
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Civil-society-slams-use-of-FCRA-to-target-NGOs/articleshow/52696519.cms
