Govt likely to tighten noose around NGOs by changing rules

Every non-governmental organisation (NGO) receiving foreign funds will have to put out details of it within one week on its website while banks will have to report about such donations to the government within 48 hours of such receipts.

These are part of the proposed changes in the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules suggested by the Home Ministry seeking to tighten the noose around erring NGOs.

The Ministry has also suggested that banks will have to inform it within 48 hours of receipt of foreign funds by any NGO.

Earlier, NGOs were mandated to put in public domain details if receipt of foreign donations by them were in excess of Rs  1 crore and the same was also done only at the end of the financial year.

Earlier, banks were supposed to inform the government within 30 days only if a foreign contribution to any NGO exceeded Rs  1 crore in a single transaction or over a period of 30 days.

Another change has been brought in the form which is supposed to be filled up online for registration or renewal of license for NGOs.

The Home Ministry has introduced a new declaration that the NGO must make it clear that the foreign aid received by it will not be used for any activities "detrimental to national interest, likely to affect public interest, or likely to prejudicially affect the security, scientific, strategic or economic interest of the state."

NGOs will have to also submit details of any social media account on Facebook or Twitter being operated by them.