Kolkata NGO designs Bio Toilets to battle open defecation

Bengal's Nadia to become first open defecation-free district in country, claims Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced that April 30th will be observed as Nirmal Bangla Divas—an initiative to achieve open defecation-free districts in the state. According to the state government, West Bengal’s Nadia district is set to become country’s first district that has become freed of open defecation. “On April 30th, we will make a formal announcement of Nadia becoming first Indian district to earn Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. Hooghly and Bardhaman are placed on second and third rank respectively,” Banerjee claimed.

The state government has further claimed that it has planned to set up individual household latrines (IHHL) across 8.47 lakh households in 2014-15—the highest in the country. “As part of the Nirmal Bangla (Clean Bengal) Mission, as many as 3.47 lakh toilets were set up across Nadia. These were constructed not just in the interiors of Nadia, but also in the urban centres and townships. By March 2015, all households in the district had access to toilets,” an official statement said.

UNICEF rings alarm against open defecation

According to UNICEF, slow progress on sanitation and the entrenched practice of open defecation among millions around the world continue to put children and their communities at risk. Some 2.5 billion people worldwide do not have adequate toilets and among them 1 billion defecate in the open – in fields, bushes, or bodies of water – putting them, and especially children, in danger of deadly faecal-oral diseases like diarrhoea, claims UNICEF. India, with 597 million (half the population) practising open defecation, also has high levels of stunting. Globally, some 1.9 billion people have gained access to improved sanitation since 1990. However, progress has not kept up with population growth and the Millennium Development Goal target on sanitation is unlikely to be reached by 2015 at current rates of progress.

Green Sanitation Foundation

In the wake of this announcement, iamin contacted Green Sanitation Foundation, a voluntary organisation in Kolkata that works against open defection to find a solution to the lack of proper sanitation facilities in India. As we interacted with Green Sanitation Foundation’s director Sudip Sen, he shared the concept of‘green toilets’ with us. Sen’s organisation strives to improve hygiene and sanitation in India through the use of Bio Toilets.

What are Bio Toilets?

Green Sanitation Foundation has launched Bio Toilets. These toilets can convert human waste into a non toxic, non-contaminating water compatible substance by maintaining the environmental standards. The process of conversion is facilitated by the application of multi strain bacteria culture. This process involves the aerobic forms of bacteria. “The major advantage of these bio toilets is that they do not need a sewage system to operate. They treat solid waste and convert it to liquid form, which is harmless and does not contaminate groundwater, soil, etc,” said Sen. Here’s a video that features bio toilets:

https://youtu.be/wOrosqIt05k

Cost factor

As claimed by the NGO, the cost of installing a Bio Toilet ranges between Rs.25 - 30,000, which includes training on O&M, communication efforts, etc. “Multiple bio toilets will cost more. GSF is also working on developing solar powered community bio-toilets,” added Sen.

Source: http://www.iamin.in/en/jadavpur/news/kolkata-ngo-designs-bio-toilets-battle-open-defecation-58620

Check NGOs Seeking Govt Funds for Duplication: Maneka

Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Maneka Gandhi today said that NGOs and welfare organisations seeking funds for government's schemes should be checked for duplication as many ministries end up funding them for similar purposes.

She asked MPs to identify genuine NGOs doing good work at a meeting of Consultative Committee of Parliament attached to the Ministry.

The WCD Ministry had recently come across a large number of fake applications under its "Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women" (STEP) scheme, aimed at providing employability skills to women.

"Government should assist the organisations in their task of skill development of women. We will try our best to ensure India's money goes to the best," Gandhi said.

The meeting was called to discuss various aspects related to skill training to women under STEP scheme.

Addressing the Members of the Committee, Gandhi said the training should not only be restricted to few areas like sewing, stitching and embroidery but should also include various diverse activities like making food items, rope making and knitting which are in demand and can generate easy economic opportunities for women.

She informed that the STEP scheme will be revived later this year and the proposals of projects will be uploaded on internet and if the proposals are rejected, the reasons thereof will also be shown.

Source: http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/check-ngos-seeking-govt-funds-for-duplication-maneka/894084

The crackdown: Is the government really at war with NGOs?

The government's recent move to cancel the registration of nearly 9,000 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for failing to provide details of foreign funding for three years starting from financial year 2009-10 clearly shows that it has intensified its ongoing major crackdown on non-profit organisation operating in the country. The move came soon after the government suspended the licence of Greenpeace India and put US-based Ford Foundation on a security watch list, necessitating government approval to carry out their activities in the country.

A few months ago, the home ministry said lobby groups such as Greenpeace were damaging the country's economy by campaigning against genetically modified food, mining and power projects.

The Ford Foundation was put on a watch list following accusation that it was providing funding to a local group run by an activist who is a Modi critic. This has given some fodder to Modi's critics to argue that the government's move to restrict the movement of foreign funding to local charities is an attempt to scuttle the voices of those, who oppose the government's economic agenda.

The sudden spurt in the number of circulars issued by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) against organisations registered under The Foreign Contributions Regulation Act, 2010 (FCRA) in the recent past has proved that the ministry has intensified its scrutiny of NGOs.

In December, an RBI circular listed NGOs such as Danish International Development Agency, US-based Mercy Corps, US, Netherlands-based Hivos International and US-based Climate Work Foundation and Greenpeace in a list of those whose funds should be monitored by banks. Any NGO receiving funds from them will now need prior permission of the MHA before they bring in the funds. Also, from April 1, all organisations registered under the FCRA have to reapply for licence within a year.

The previous Manmohan Singh government too issued notices to NGOs that hadn't filed their returns during 2006-2009. But critics say the crackdown has become more pronounced under the Modi government because it wants to stifle voices against its economic and growth agenda.

The government's supporters say this increased scrutiny is to safeguard national security. The significant spurt in cross-border terrorist activities over the last couple of decades, which reared its ugly head following a series of terror strikes including 9/11 attacks in the US and 26/11 carnage in Mumbai, has forced the government to track every penny that is flown to the country by NGOs and think-tanks to ensure that the money is not used to fund terrorist or secessionist activities.

The government suspect that most of these organisations misuse funds by indulging in money laundering and campaigning against development work.
The strain in the relationship between bureaucracy and the civil society in the country that is increasingly being based on mutual suspicion and hostility is also cited as a reason for the crackdown on NGOs, which activist groups accuse as an attempt to silence free speech, opposing views and dissent.

Both Indian and foreign donors are shying away from engaging with NGOs which work in governance, environment and human rights as the government is seen increasingly hostile to and suspicious about activities in the space supported by donor money.

The government's 'blacklisted' of foreign donors amply indicates that those working on environment issues and climate change, and those organisations which have an alternative vision and definition of growth elicit government ire more than others.

The fall in fund flow to the NGOs in the country in the recent past is also seen as a fallout of the deterioration in mobilising funds for charity and development aid because of the global economic recession as well as the projection of India as an 'emerging economic power'.

Following the intensified government scrutiny, donor entities are likely to go slow on their funding plans till the political opposition to the government's approach against charities becomes more visible and vocal in the public domain.

This may also lead to a situation where funding for NGO activities will become more decentralised—smaller donations from a large section of the civil society supporting social entities that genuinely pursue larger common good instead of a few big funders controlling fund flow.
While the government cannot be criticised for putting national security on the top of its agenda, whether voices of dissent should be stifled in a mammoth democracy like ours needs to be debated.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.in/The-crackdown-Is-the-government-really-at-warwith-NGOs/articleshow/47100618.cms

FAST TRACK CBDT APPROVAL FOR NEPAL SUPPORTING NEPAL EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

Responding to several requests for Earthquake Relief to Nepal, CBDT has come forward in fast tracking the procedure for giving approval for any NGOs wanting to spend money in that country. Vide a press release CBDT has promised to give approvals within 2 days. Normally the process is quite a long one and takes anywhere from 3-4 months.

All those NGOs interested may contact CBDT website for the procedure to be followed. Srr-Foundation have also provided copy of instructions on their website at following link:

http://srr-foundation.org/circulars/permission-under-section-11-1-c-28-04-2015.pdf

BSE, two others plan CSR platform

The initiative ‘Sammaan’ would help corporates access implementing agencies, whose credentials have been verified, to carry out CSR works

New Delhi: A platform to help companies find implementing agencies for carrying out social welfare activities will soon be launched by leading stock exchange BSE along with industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and think tank IICA.

The initiative ‘Sammaan’, launched in New Delhi on Wednesday, would help corporates access implementing agencies, whose credentials have been verified, to carry out corporate social responsibility (CSR) works under the companies law.

Under the Companies Act, 2013 certain classes of profitable companies are required to spend at least 2% of their three-year annual average net profits towards CSR activities.

BSE said in a statement it has collaborated with the two other entities to form the platform in order to enable companies undertake effective CSR. A recent analysis by BSE showed that there are 1,294 companies on the exchange that are required to make CSR spend under the law.

“There are an estimated 20 lakh implementing agencies registered in India. Corporates, especially the small and medium ones, will need assistance to identify an NGO that they can partner with for their CSR compliance,” the statement said.

Implementing agencies on Sammaan would provide clear and defined programmes, objectives, expected outcomes and budgets. “A Letter of Fulfilment provided by BSE to the corporate donors will increase the credibility of the implementing agencies and their programmes,” it added.

Source: http://www.livemint.com/Companies/9rNF60NgX5VQweX5pKWtwJ/BSE-two-others-plan-CSR-platform.html

Platform for ‘compassionate capitalism’ brings together corporates, NGOs

NEW DELHI, APRIL 29:

In an endeavour to usher in ‘compassionate capitalism’, the Bombay Stock Exchange, along with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) has launched a CSR initiative called Sammaan.

Launching the platform here on Wednesday, President Pranab Mukherjee urged industry leaders to use their business acumen to add value to society at large. “You have a bigger purpose than to merely earn profits. Just as you add value to your shareholders’ wealth, it is equally important to add value to the society at large”, he said.

‘CSR nothing new’

He said the notion of CSR is not new to India. “Mahatma Gandhi had espoused the socio-economic philosophy of trusteeship. It provided a means for wealthy people to be trustees to look after the welfare of the common man,” he said, adding that CSR has gradually evolved into the corporate framework.

Speaking at the launch event, BSE’s non-executive Chairman S Ramadorai said by law, 1,294 BSE-listed companies are required to spend about ₹8,000 crore on CSR in 2015-16. Of these, 1,167 companies have a CSR budget of less than ₹10 crore, he said, adding that the platform can facilitate corporates in selecting, monitoring and bringing together NGOs for CSR projects CII President Sumit Mazumdar said “business cannot succeed in societies that are struggling,” and underlined two key social development enablers that CII will focus on – women & child development and public health & sanitation.

Sammaan will serve as an intermediary between corporate India and non-government organisations with regard to various corporate social responsibility projects. It will also provide corporates with a programme dashboard to monitor funding and progress of their CSR programmes.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/csr-platform-to-bring-together-corporates-ngos/article7154430.ece

CBDT Permission for Nepal on Fast Track

Tax-exempt NGOs wanting to take up earthquake relief work in Nepal need CBDT prior-approval for this. This permission normally takes 3-6 months. However, the CBDT today announced that the permission will be granted within two working days.

To get the permission you need to submit a completed application, setting out details of what you want to do, the area, and the amount to be spent. More details on this are given in AuditAble 12: Taxing NGO Programs Outside India.

Reference:

1. AuditAble 12: Taxing NGO Programs Outside India (www.AccountAid.net)

2. Sec. 11(1)(c) of Income Tax Act, 1961

3. CBDT Press Release dated 28-Apr-2015 (http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/Lists/Press%20Releases/Attachments/359/CBDT-Press-Release-28-04-2015.pdf)

The cancellation of 9000 NGO’s by MHA

Dear All,

It is to bring to your notice that there are fresh media reports of the cancellation of 9000 NGO’s by MHA. We request you to not get panicked by this information as these are cumulative cancellations ever since the new FCRA 2010 was enacted and no fresh cancellation has taken place. These cancellations are due to most of them not filing their annual returns by the due dates and many of these organizations did not intimate the MHA about their change in addresses. Even upon contacting these organizations, the MHA never received any response from these organizations. Attached is the cancellation order within this email order http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/FCRACAncellationOrder_270415.pdf and for further updates we will keep providing the needed information.

Regards
VANI team

Attention: JAN AUSHADHI: GENERIC MEDICINE CAMPAIGN.

The Jan Aushadhi scheme launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Govt. of India aims to make available quality generic medicines at affordable prices to all through special outlet known as Jan Aushadhi store opened/to be opened in each district of all the States. The new business plan approved by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in August, 2013 brought out it no. of changes to make the campaign a real success.
For More Information please visit: http://janaushadhi.gov.in 

CSR, tax laws not favourable for international aid

Indian companies are mostly extending aid in Nepal by leveraging their own businesses as a goodwill gesture

Indian companies, led by ITC Ltd, Bharti Airtel Ltd and SpiceJet Ltd, have rushed to the aid of earthquake-ravaged Nepal, and many more are looking for ways to provide help.

For now, Indian companies can mostly extend aid by leveraging their own businesses or services as a goodwill gesture.

For instance, ITC is supplying the National Disaster Relief Management (NDRM) centre, which is involved with disaster relief, with 200,000 food packets and nine tonnes of biscuits and ready-to-eat food.

“We will be looking at deploying more material aid based on the need. For now, since we are food manufacturers, we could address this need urgently,” said an ITC spokesperson as the death toll from Saturday’s quake and scores of aftershocks crossed 4,000.

Airtel offered free calls on its network from India to Nepal for 48 hours from Saturday.

SpiceJet said it is offering free flights from Kathmandu to India to people who cannot afford to pay the full fare. In addition, it is helping non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and relief organizations to travel to Nepal in a flight that has been put together for relief measures.

Mobile wallet provider Paytm said it will match the donation by its customers and will put the contributions into a relief fund run by the Indian government’s Nepal-specific relief fund.

The companies’ move marks a departure from past practice in two respects: so far companies have responded to disasters in India, and they have done so by extending financial aid.

Noshir Dadrawala, chief executive of the Mumbai-based Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy, a not-for-profit working in the area of corporate social initiatives, said companies will not be able to tap their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds for international aid, as government rules require that these funds be spent on CSR activities in India.

Besides the restrictions on CSR placed by the Companies Act of 2013, charitable funding outside of India is not easy to carry out under the Income Tax Act, 1961, and it is regulated by the Reserve Bank of India.

“Every trust, society or section 8 (previously section 25) company that enjoys tax exemptions is required to apply its income for charitable purpose only in India. For a charitable organization to send funds out of India, it would require the permission of the Reserve Bank of India and the funds could only be used “for a cause in which India is interested”, says Dadrawala.

While companies are routing their relief material through government agencies such as NDRM or through the ministry for external affairs, which in turn sends the material with the Indian Air Force, Indian-registered NGOs may not find it easy to engage in relief operations in Nepal, even when they have the expertise.

Goonj, an NGO that works in disaster relief, has found its work hampered by these rules, and has been unable to send immediate relief material even though it is ready.

“We have good experience in disaster response and given the scale of the disaster, there is a great need to mobilize resources quickly. We have two truckloads of material—medicines, blankets, tents—ready to be deployed. But we are awaiting permission from the home ministry and external affairs ministry,” said Anshu Gupta, founder, Goonj.

Ketto.org, an online crowdfunding platform, has created a page for raising funds for Nepal relief, and its co-founder Varun Sheth said it raised close toRs.6 lakh in just a day. “We are trying to get as many individuals to raise funds as possible. Currently, about 21 individuals are campaigning for funds, including actor Kunal Kapoor,” Sheth said. They are aiming to raise about Rs.25 lakh in the course of the month and the money will be used to assemble disaster kits which will contain tarpaulin, mats, soaps, blankets, etc. Ketto will work with CARE India, an NGO that deals with disaster preparedness and response among other issues. CARE India in turn hopes to supply these items to CARE Nepal.

CARE India CEO Muhammad Musa said the NGO has mobilized 1,500 kits that will support 9,000 people. The kits contain essential items such as tarpaulin for making tents, water, hygiene kits, etc. Like Goonj, CARE is also awaiting permission from the government to send the material across to Nepal.

Dadrawala said cross-border laws are complicated when it comes to providing aid, and suggested the rules be relaxed in major disasters like the Nepal quake in order to allow aid to flow freely.

Officials at the ministry of corporate affairs refused to offer a comment for this story.

Dadrawala said given the restrictions, the best way to deploy funds would be to route them through a local unit in Nepal or through the Prime Minister’s relief fund.

Donations to the Prime Minister’s relief fund are acceptable under CSR rules. The Prime Minister’s relief fund is being deployed to give compensation to the kin of those who have died in the Nepal earthquake.

Source: http://www.livemint.com/Companies/nakU1vpalqWSVM6Ti0hJJM/CSR-tax-laws-not-favourable-for-international-aid.html