Page 2 - Ngos

Mizoram churches, parties, NGOs appeal to EC to change poll counting date

A conglomerate of major churches, political parties and other organisations in Mizoram, on Thursday appealed to the Election Commission to reschedule the date of counting of votes cast in the November 7 state Assembly election. Representatives of the bodies met the state chief electoral officer Madhup Vyas on Thursday and requested for the change in date for the third time. They also requested him to take steps to change the date of counting, a leader of Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), the church conglomerate, said. They also submitted a written appeal to the CEO requesting for a change in the date of counting from December 3, a Sunday, to either December 4 or 5, he said. As per the Election Commission's schedule the counting of votes in Mizoram will be held along with four other states - Chhatisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana where Assembly elections are being held. Vyas assured that he will inform the matter to the Election Commission for consideration,

Taliban benefiting from international aid via fraudulent NGOs: US watchdog

The watchdog for US assistance to Afghanistan has warned that the Taliban are benefiting from international aid through the establishment of fraudulent nongovernmental organisations. The Taliban have exerted greater control over national and international NGOs since seizing power in August 2021. They have barred Afghan women from NGO work and sought to push out foreign organisations from the education sector. A report from the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, or SIGAR, found that the Taliban benefit from American-funded education programming through the generation of tax revenues and from more nefarious methods like the establishment of fraudulent NGOs and extorting and infiltrating existing NGOs to obtain or direct international donor aid. Taliban spokesmen weren't immediately available for comment on Monday. In May, a SIGAR report highlighted the Taliban's interference with NGO work in Afghanistan. The economy ministry, which supervises the sector, ..

Is India misusing laws to crack down on NGOs, think tanks? FATF to probe

A team from the FATF is expected to visit India in November and meet representatives of non-profit organisations, including international ones, to get a first-hand understanding of the situation

A question of trusts

The govt errs on the side of excessive regulation

Home ministry sets up helpdesk for NGOs registered under FCRA: Officials

The Union home ministry has set up a helpdesk for NGOs to submit their queries related to foreign funding, licensing and other issues with regard to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), officials said. Nearly 880 users have already registered and 121 tickets (related to the issues and queries) were resolved on the online helpdesk till Monday evening, according to a notice uploaded on the home ministry's website. The helpdesk, the officials said, will help resolve various complaints of the non-government organisations (NGOs) and associations that face problems regarding FCRA-related issues. The government is now strictly monitoring the activities of the FCRA-registered NGOs, which receive foreign funds. All NGOs that receive foreign funds have to mandatorily register under the FCRA. According to the home ministry's data, all NGOs together have received foreign funding amounting to Rs 55,449 crore in the last three years. A total of 16,301 NGOs in the country had valid F

Sex workers in Kamathipura get Mahila Samman Savings certificates by NGO

An NGO which supports various activities for marginalised communities, including transgenders, distributed Mahila Samman Savings certificates to sex workers in the Kamathipura red light area recently. The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the 2023-24 Union Budget to commemorate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The two-year tenure scheme for women offers an attractive and fixed interest of 7.5 per cent interest compounded quarterly with flexible investment and partial withdrawal options with a maximum ceiling of Rs. 2 lakh. The scheme is valid for two years up to March 31, 2025. The certificates were presented to the sex workers by Nidarshana Gowani of the Kamala Ankibai Ghamandiram Gowani Trust as a part of her philanthropic endeavours. The certificates of Rs 15,000 investment each were distributed among 100 sex workers. "We are happy to felicitate 100 sex workers from the Kamathipura area with the Mahila Samman Savings certifica

At least $900,000 stolen by employees of US aid group operating in Congo

An American-based aid group said that at least USD 900,000 was stolen from it's Congo programs by members of the organisation who conspired with outsiders. GiveDirectly said that it learned that people on its Congo team worked with people outside the organisation to defraud the cash transfer programme, diverting aid from more than 1,700 impoverished families over six months, starting in August 2022. This fraud was only possible because of a specific change we made in our payment process in order to work in this remote, insecure region of (Congo), according to the statement from Monday. We feel deep regret for not catching this sooner and take seriously the vulnerabilities it exposed, it said. GiveDirectly said that an investigation is ongoing and that it was able to recover a very small portion of the lost funds, but the majority of the USD 900,000 will likely be uncoverable. But the group is working to ensure that families impacted by the fraud get their money. More than 1 per c

Guwahati NGO files defamation suit against ex-CJI Ranjan Gogoi in Assam

A social worker and office bearer of an Assam-based NGO has filed a defamation case against the former CJI, Ranjan Gogoi, claiming that the latter's autobiography contained some offensive things

NGO moves SC against appointment of Arun Goel as Election Commissioner

NGO Association for Democratic Reforms has moved the Supreme Court against Arun Goel's appointment as Election Commissioner claiming it is arbitrary, and violative of institutional integrity and independence of the poll body. The NGO has sought the constitution of a "neutral and independent committee" for the appointment of members of the Election Commission. The plea alleged that the Union government and the ECI have through their acts of "omissions and commission" participated in a carefully orchestrated "selection procedure" for their own benefits. "The writ petition is being filed in public interest challenging the appointment of Sh. Arun Goel as Election Commissioner vide notification dated November 19, 2022, on the ground that the appointment is arbitrary and violative of institutional integrity and independence of Election Commission Of India...," the plea said. The top court on March 2 had ruled that the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and ECs will be done by

Validity of FCRA licence of NGOs extended till September 30: MHA notice

The Centre on Friday extended the validity of the FCRA registration of non-governmental organisations, the renewal applications of which are pending, till September 30. In a public notice, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the validity of the registration of those FCRA entities whose validity had been extended till March 31, 2023 and whose renewal application is pending, will stand extended up to September 30, 2023 or till the date of disposal of renewal application, whichever is earlier. It also said that the validity of those entities which were registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and whose five year validity period is expiring during April 1, 2023 to September 30, 2023, but have applied for will apply for renewal before expiry of the five year validity period, will stand extended up to September 30, 2023 or till the disposal of the renewal application -- whichever is earlier. "All FCRA registered associations are therefore, advised to take note .

FCRA licence of 1,827 NGOs cancelled in last 5 years: Nityanand Rai

The government has cancelled FCRA registration of 1,827 NGOs for violation of laws in the last five years, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said on Wednesday. Rai told Rajya Sabha that Section 32 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 provides for revision by the central government of any order passed in a proceeding against any association registered under the Act. During 2018 to 2022, the FCRA registration certificates of 1,827 associations have been cancelled due to violation of the provisions of the Act and rules, he said in a written reply. There were 16,383 FCRA-registered organisations as on March 10, 2023.

Indian NGOs received Rs 2,430.80 cr in foreign funding in 3 years

A total of Rs 2,430.84 crore in foreign funding has been received by Indian NGOs in the last three years, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. An amount of Rs 905.50 crore in foreign funding has been received by NGOs in 2021-22, Rs 798.18 crore in 2020-21 and Rs 727.16 crore in 2019-20, he said in a written reply. The minister said as on March 10, 2023, the FCRA registration certificate of 16,383 NGOs is valid, out of which 14,966 NGOs have submitted mandatory annual returns for the financial year 2021-22 under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. He said some complaints had been received in the past regarding misutilisation or diversion of foreign contributions by the FCRA registered associations and such complaints are dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Act and rules.

McDonald's north and east to partner NGOs for hiring 1,500 people by 2025

In its endeavour of driving change and making a positive impact in the local communities, McDonald's India - North and East is planning to hire 50 per cent of its workforce by 2025 through NGO

World NGO Day 2023: Theme, quotes, history, significance, celebration

February 27 is marked as World NGO Day, celebrated to recognise and honour the objective of contributing to society and these organisations

Freedom and the big freeze

When it becomes clear that criticism is difficult without trouble, the circle of one's freedom of expression shrinks

Aid will be affected: UN on ban on female employees at NGOs by Taliban

Griffiths reported that the UN had made the largest-ever worldwide plea for Afghanistan in 2023, asking for USD 4.6 billion

Business trusted most among govts, NGOs, media in polarizing world: Report

People are more gloomy about their economic prospects than ever before and trust business far more than other institutions like governments, nonprofits, and the media in an increasingly divided world

Beyond civil society

'Protectionism' in social services is impractical

MCD seeks support from NGOs, pvt firms for development of smart classes

The MCD is looking for support from NGOs and private firms for development of smart classes, libraries, and improvement of school buildings, its officials said on Tuesday. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi in a statement said it has started 'Vidyasthali Project' to develop a "superlative learning environment" in its schools for an all-round development of students. Under the project, various NGOs and private companies are invited to support and strengthen facilities and infrastructure in the civic body-run schools. "MCD is looking forward to active support from various NGOs and private companies, in areas like development of smart classes, library development, nursery class development, material of resource centre for children with special needs, improvement in school building, human resources, sports, fully-furnished computer and science labs and other facilities," the statement said. Proposals are invited from companies, industries, government and non-government organisations, a

EU condemns Taliban's ban on women working for NGOs over dress code issue

The European Union condemned the Taliban's ban on women working for NGOs and said that it was assessing the impact of its aid in Afghanistan