Over 14,000 NGOs barred from receiving foreign funds: Govt

As many as 14,222 NGOs were barred from receiving foreign funds in the past four years for violating norms, the government said today.
Of these, the largest number of 10,020 Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) were barred last year. A total of 4138, 4 and 59 NGOs were restrained from receiving foreign contributions in 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
Only one NGO has been barred so far this year from receiving overseas funds, he said.
Rijiju said, "the Ministry of External Affairs has communicated a write up containing certain views of United Nations Human Rights experts on provisions of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), which regulates foreign grant.

"The government is also aware about the one sided and biased views expressed by certain persons or associations regarding the cancellation of FCRA registration."
Rijiju said the Home Ministry has clarified the position against these one sided views earlier.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is mandated to administer the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, for regulating the receipt and utilisation of foreign contribution by the associations.
"As and when reports are received against any association for alleged violation of the Act, action is initiated against the alleged violators after following due process as prescribed in the FCRA, 2010 and Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules (FCRR), 2011.

"Reasonable opportunities like furnishing of information to a standard questionnaire, inspection of records, issuing a show-cause notice, personal appearances, if required, are given to the associations before taking a final decision regarding cancellation of FCRA registration. The cancellation order etc. Are also subject to judicial scrutiny," the Minister said.
Further, for maintaining transparency, all orders, notifications etc.,are placed on website www.Fcraonline.Nic.In of the Ministry of Home Affairs, he said.
Government has cancelled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration of NGOs based on the violation of provisions of FCRA 2010, Rijiju added.