FCRA Licences Of 1300 NGOs Cancelled By Home Ministry In Latest Review

The Ministry of Home Affair (MHA) has cancelled FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) licences of 1,300 NGOs, reports The Economic Times.

Some of the organisation that have lost FCRA licence are University of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh’s Maulana Azad Educational Society and Indian Institute of Technology, Tamil Nadu’s Christian organisations, such as Christ For India and Infant Jesus Mission Trust, and government-aided National Productivity Council.

Bihar’s Veer Savarkar Samajik Evam Shaikshnik Sansthan and Madhya Pradesh’s Jai Prakash Narayan Yuva Mandal also lost their FCRA licences.

According to the list, Tamil Nadu has the highest number of NGOs , followed by Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

“FCRA licences were revoked for failing to file annual returns despite repeated notices and mandatory legal requirements,” a home ministry official was reported saying.

Over 40,000 NGOs were registered under FCRA till 2011 but the numbers have approximately halved after government tightened norms in 2014 with Greenpeace, Ford Foundation among prominent names losing their FCRA licence.

Additionally, Gujarat-based activist Teesta Setalvad, who is facing a CBI probe for receiving foreign contribution from Ford Foundation, saw her Sabrang Trust’s licence get cancelled.

Also senior lawyer and former ASG Indira Jaising’s Compassion International and Advantage India also lost their FCRA licences. Last year, the Enforcement Directorate raided Amnesty India International.

As per the recent amendment to the 2011 Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules (FCRR) by home ministry, all office-bearers of an NGO or organisation have to mandatorily file an affidavit declaring that they have not been involved in religious conversion or prosecution in communal riot cases, among others.

To enhance transparency in the process, the home ministry have also integrated 59 nationalised banks for NGOs to open bank accounts using public financial management system.