Around 10 NGOs under scanner for flouting FCRA

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Around 10 non-governmental organizations are under scanner of Ministry of Home Affairs for flouting the Foreign Contribution Regulations Act (FCRA), according to Vamlunmang, joint secretary of Ministry of Home Afairs (foreign).

Speaking to Express on the sidelines of FCRA Outreach Seminar organized by Kotak Mahindra Bank here on Friday, Vamlunmang said that around 10 Ngos are under scanner for various violations.

However, he refused to provide any details about the NGOs or where they are located.

Interestingly, Tamil Nadu occupies the second position in the country in terms of influx of foreign funds for non-governmental organisation (NGO) activity in the State, according to information received through the Right to Information Act from Ministry of Home Affairs. NGOs working in the State have received about Rs 1,650 crore from agencies abroad in 2008-09.

The Home Ministry official also said that there are more than 40,000 non-government organizations registered under FCRA but only 20,000 pay their annual returns.

He said the other 20,000 have gone dormant or hardly file their annual returns.

He also said Ministry of Home Affairs is making it mandatory for all non-governmental organizations to renew their registration by May 2016.

“This is also applicable for those who had registered under the old Foreign Contributions Act, “ he said.

He also said that Ministry of Home affairs is streamlining the renewal of registration to make it simpler He also said that Ministry of Hoem affairs would soon seek online submission of FCRA returns. Under the new system, the NGOs would receive electronic acknowledgement, he added.

Ministry of Home Affairs undersecretary A K Dhayani was also present on the occasion.