Revision as of 22:26, 16 March 2017

An overview

NGOs: the trail of foreign money

Country-wise funding of NGOs, The Times of India

Only 2% NGOs registered with govt

PTI | Mar 23, 2014

NEW DELHI: Despite voluntary organizations receiving over Rs 11,500 crore of foreign funds annually, only two per cent of the 20 lakh odd NGOs operating in the country have been registered, raising eyebrows in the home ministry.

According to a home ministry report, although there is no centralized database on the number of NGOs in the country and the quantum of finance involved in their operations, unofficial figures indicate that there are over 20 lakh NGOs registered under Societies' Registration Act, Trust Act etc.

However, the number of NGOs registered under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act would be less than 2 per cent of the total number of NGOs.

"Though, the number of associations reporting receipt and utilization of foreign contribution is increasing; yet, it is a matter of concern that a large number of registered associations still do not submit their statutory annual returns mandated by the law," the latest Home Ministry report on receipt and utilization of foreign contribution by voluntary associations said.

A total of 43,527 NGOs were registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act up to March 31, 2012. During the year 2011-12, a total of 22,702 NGOs reported receipt of foreign contribution amounting to Rs 11,546.29 crore.

Altogether 9,509 NGOs have reported 'Nil' receipt of foreign contribution while many have not filed their returns.

Top four recipient states

(There are two related graphics on this page)

Among all states and Union Territories, Delhi received highest amount of foreign contributions in 2011-12.

While Rs 2285.75 crore of foreign contribution has been received by 1482 NGOs in the national capital, 3341 NGOs in Tamil Nadu received Rs 1704.76 crore, 2527 NGOs in Andhra Pradesh received Rs 1258.52 crore and 2056 voluntary organizations in Maharashtra received Rs 1107.39 crore.

State-wise foreign receipts

Delhi NGOs get most foreign donations

Lubna Kably Mumbai

TNN

The Times of India Jul 01 2014

Actual Receipts Could Be Higher Than Reported

Non-government organizations (NGOs) in India received Rs 10,900 crore as foreign donations during financial year 2012-13.

This is a slight decline from the previous year’s figure of Rs 11,548 crore.

Going by past trends, it is safe to assume that only 3040% of NGOs comply with reporting requirements. Thus the actual receipts of foreign donations could be much higher for both these years.

Foreign donations over the past few years, starting from FY 2006-07, have been in the range of Rs 10,000-11,000 crore. This is a steep rise of more than 100% if compared with foreign donation inflows of just Rs 4,872 crore during FY 2001-02.

NGOs registered in Delhi reported the highest receipts of foreign donations at Rs 2,232 crore during FY 2012-13, followed by Tamil Nadu at Rs 1,621 crore and Andhra Pradesh at Rs 1,146 crore.

Karnataka unseated Maharashtra as the fourth ranking territory in terms of foreign donations to its registered NGOs. The receipts by NGOs in Karnataka and Maharashtra were Rs 1,109 crore and Rs 1,038 crore, respectively . The top ten states/UTs, which include Kerala, WB, Gujarat, UP and Orissa, account for 87% of total foreign donation inflows.

The aggregate data for the financial year 2012-13 was collated by TOI based on the information available with the home ministry as of June 18.

A Rajya Sabha reply dated December 18, 2013 had indicated that of 41,844 NGOs registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 16,756 have not yet filed their annual returns for the year 2011-12. TOI also analysed the key activities of the top recipient NGO in each of the top 10 states/UTs. Tamil Nadu-registered World Vision of India got the maximum quantum of foreign donations of Rs 251 crore (Rs 233 crore during 2011-12). These funds were primarily utilized for AIDS awareness and treatment and its key overseas donors were World Vision USA and Coca Cola.

Among the list of the top recipient NGOs in each state/UT during 2012-13, only a few utilized all or most of their foreign donations for religious activities. These included The Indian Society of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (foreign donations of Rs 193 crore), Believers Church (foreign donations of Rs 67 crore) and Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (foreign donations of Rs 50 crore). MHA 's December 2013 report also shows that key specific activities for which foreign funds have been utilized in the past include rural development, children welfare and education.

The recent report by the Intelligence Bureau, alleging that a few NGOs carried out activities aimed at stalling India's projects has created ripples among foreign donors.

“NGOs across the world compete for getting increased funding each year--be it from parent associations or other foundations. The fear that their welfare activities--such as medical relief--could be construed as having a devious motive is likely to have an ad verse impact in the coming f years. No foreign donor would like to be dragged into a contro versy ,“ said a US-based non profit consultant The central government is l also empowered to ban receipt of foreign donations by an NGO or permit such donations only with prior permis sion, if such receipts are likely to prejudicially impact `public interest', `sovereignty and integrity of the nation', `harmo. ny between religious groups' to name a few instances. Some of these widely defined terms are also causing anxiety among NGOs and their overseas donors.

Top five donor countries

The five major donor countries are the US (Rs 3838.23 crore), the UK (Rs 1219.02 crore), Germany (Rs 1096.01 crore), Italy (Rs 528.88 crore) and the Netherlands (Rs 418.37 crore).

Number of NGOs

Those that file accounts

The Times of India, Sep 19 2015

Strength of police force and number of NGOs in six Indian states, 2015; Graphic courtesy: The Times of India, Sep 19 2015

Dhananjay Mahapatra

NGOs outnumber cops 2:1

But only 10% of the 30 lakh organisations submit accounts: CBI

For a country ranking low in social indices, the data provided to the Supreme Court on Friday by the CBI on non-government organisations was both startling and heartening -there are two NGOs for every policeman. On a petition filed by advocate M L Sharma alleging misuse of funds by an Anna Hazare-led NGO in Maharashtra, the SC had asked the CBI two years ago to count the number of NGOs and how many were filing annual income and expenditure details with the Registrar of Societies.

At the last count on September 1, the CBI found that there were 30,81,873 NGOs operating in India which would indicate a heartening trend of so many organisations working for the uplift of a large population.

But this heartening finding was accompanied by a startling feature -only 10% of the 3 million NGOs submit accounts of their funding and expenditure to the authorities as mandatorily required under the Societies Registration Act. This means no one knows how more than 27 lakh NGOs spent their funds. Of the total 30.81 lakh NGOs registered under the Societies Registration Act, only 2.9 lakh NGOs filed annual returns with the authorities indicating their fund inflow and expenditure details. Jammu & Kashmir with 147 NGOs and Mizoram with 34 NGOs were fully compliant with the law requiring annual filing of funding and expenditure details. The NGOs outnumber the total police force by almost two to one. Total policemen, both civil and armed, in India number 15.85 lakh.

Sharma's PIL had alleged misuse of funds by Hazare's NGO Hind Swaraj Trust (HST). After the state government provided details of misuse of funds, a bench headed by Justice H L Dattu had on September 2, 2013, asked the CBI to find out details of funding of NGOs across India.

Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology , which functions under the rural development ministry , had given a grant of Rs 1 lakh to HST for watershed development in three villages in 1999-2001, but more than 90% of the money was spent on honorarium, travelling, printing and stationery , the court was told.

Regulating NGOs

SC: ‘figures are mind-boggling; devise a legal framework’

Dhananjay Mahapatra, Explosion of NGOs leaves SC startled. Sep 15 2016 : The Times of India (Delhi)

The Supreme Court was in Sept 2016 startled by the number of NGOs operating in India, 31 lakh and counting, and decided to lay down a legal framework to regulate their funding, spending and working.

The CBI informed a bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice A M Khanwilkar that only 8-10% of the nearly 31 lakh NGOs had filed their accounts with Registrar of Societies (RoS) detailing receipt and spending of funds.

Appearing for the CBI, advocate P K Dey informed the SC that Telangana and Odisha, despite several reminders, had not furnished data on NGOs operating there. Dey said in Assam, there were around 97,000 NGOs and none of them filed annual returns. The SC asked him: “There are so many NGOs. What do you want the court to do?“

The bench said: “This is a major problem. These are mind-boggling figures.“ The bench appointed senior lawyer Rakesh Dwivedi as amicus curiae and asked him to examine whether the SC could lay down a legal framework to monitor their activities.

NGOs under Lokpal if govt funds cross Rs 1 crore

The Times of India, Jun 22 2016

Office-bearers of NGOs with an annual government funding exceeding Rs 1 crore will be covered under the ambit of the Lokpal. As per a new rule notified under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, office-bearers of such NGOs will be treated as “public servants“, making them liable to file declaration of annual returns, and will be charged under the anti-corruption law in case of irregularities.

In another notification, the government specified the home ministry as the competent authority to refer to the Lokpal corruption cases involving office-bearers of NGOs receiving foreign contributions in excess of Rs 10 lakh a year. Though the Lokpal Act brought director, manager, secretary or any other officer of society or association of persons or trust, whol ly or partly financed by the government, under the jurisdiction of Lokpal, it left it to the Central government to notify the threshold of the annual income that would make an NGO and its officer-bearers answerable to the watchdog.

The notification issued on Monday said, “In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (g) of sub-section (1) of Section 14 of the Lokpal & Lokayuktas Act, 2013, the Central government hereby notifies the amount of annual income of society or association or persons or trust...wholly or partly funded by the government...for being under the jurisdiction of Lokpal, shall be `one crore rupees'.

The Rs 1-crore threshhold spells relief for smaller NGOs, working with limited funding from the government, as they will be spared the trouble of having to file annual declaration of returns under the Lokpal Act.

The competent authority for government-funded NGOs with an annual income beyond Rs 1crore (only the financial assistance by the Centre would be taken into consideration for determining such annual income) would be the minister-in-charge of Union ministrydepartment providing such assistance. In case the NGO receives assistance from more than one ministry , the ministrydepartment whose contribution is highest in the year shall be the competent authority .

As per a DoPT notification “the original declaration of annual return may be filed before the ministry or department making the highest contribution as financial assistance and a copy of the returns may be sent to all other ministries or departments financing such society or association of persons or trust“.

The institution of Lokpal is yet to be set up by the Centre as a bill to amend the Lokpal Act is pending in Parliament.

2017, SC on auditing the accounts of NGOs

Dhananjay Mahapatra, Jan 11 2017: The Times of India

Only 10% Have Filed Audited Acs; Court Wants Audit Reports By March 31

The Supreme Court ordered the Centre and state governments on Tuesday to scrutinize the accounts of lakhs of NGOs and voluntary organisations, which together received thousands of crores of rupees of public funds, and take civil and criminal action against all organisations misusing the grants. Taking umbrage at years of inaction on the part of governments in seeking accountability from NGOs on fund utilization, a bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar, Justice N V Ramana and Justice D Y Chandrachud said: “The governments are not aware of their responsibility to audit the NGOs as provided under the General Finance Rules, 2005.We direct the respondents to complete the exercise of audit and submit a report to the court by March 31 under all circumstances.“ The bench authorised the governments to take punitive action against NGOs and voluntary organisations which failed to provide proper accounts of public funds received by them.

“In case an NGO is found to be non-compliant after auditing, it is imperative for the authorities to initiate civil and criminal action so as to enable the government to recover the money , apart from punishing those who misappropriated the funds,“ the bench said.

CBI, through additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta, informed the court that it had so far detected 32.97 lakh registered NGOs and voluntary organizations but less than 10% of them (3.07 lakh) filed their audited accounts with the Registrar of Cooperative Societies.

CBI was directed to undertake the NGO fund monitoring exercise on a PIL filed by advocate M L Sharma who had accused Anna Hazare's NGO of misappropriating funds allotted by Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology (Capart). But the court said the problem of NGOs with no accountability seemed to be a much larger issue than the Rs 5 crore grant given to Hazare's NGO.

Amicus curiae Rakesh Dwivedi, with advocate Sansriti Pathak, startled the court by quoting an independent study by Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR).Dwivedi said RTI replies collated by ACHR revealed that various departments of the Centre had released Rs 4,756.71 crore as grants to NGOs during 2002-09 and during the same period, states and Union territories had released Rs 1,897.64 crore.

This meant that a total of Rs 6,654.35 crore was released to NGOs and voluntary organisations during 200209, or an average of Rs 950.62 crore a year. This figure was worked out despite key states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir, Arunchal Pradesh, Mizoram and Union territories not providing any information. Dwivedi said it indicated that the actual amount released to NGOs would be higher. Surprisingly , the Centre did not provide any statistics on the amount of money it had given to NGOs from the public exchequer.

The bench wanted to put an end to this lack of financial accountability by NGOs. It ordered the Centre to frame and submit for the court's scrutiny a guideline on the procedure for accreditation of NGOs and voluntary organizations, the manner in which they should maintain regular accounts and the mechanism to recover misused or unused funds.

The petition by advocate M L Sharma had been pending in the court for the last five years, a major part of which was taken by the CBI to gather data on registered NGOs and those which had complied with the statutory requirement of furnishing audited accounts. The bench took a decisive action on Tuesday saying: “We cannot allow the matter to remain in a flux. We must take the case forward as it has remained stagnant for years“.

NGOs in anti-India activities

Govt to Lok Sabha, 2012

UPA too talked of NGOs' role in anti-India activities in '12

The Times of India Jun 15 2014 Deeptiman Tiwary New Delhi:

TNN

Docu Said Bodies In Delhi, TN Got `10k Cr In 3 Yrs

The UPA-commissioned Intelligence Bureau report on NGOs, that surfaced days after the new government took over, has kicked up a ruckus but the assertion that some of these organizations were engaged in “anti-national activities” was made way back in 2012 by the government in Parliament.

In reply to a question in Lok Sabha, the Congres-led UPA had then said, “There were reports that certain NGOs were engaged in antinational and political activities.” The statement had come amid raging protests against the Kundankulam nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu. The government had even presented a document showing that NGOs in

Tamil Nadu and Delhi had received foreign contributions to the tune of over Rs 10,000 crore between 2008 and 2011.

It said Tamil Nadu-based NGOs received 10,119 contributions in that period, adding up to Rs 4,800 crore. Delhi based NGOs, the government said, received 4,297 contributions amounting to Rs 5,800 crore. The contributions came from around 160 countries, the government had informed the House.

A recently leaked IB report, submitted to the Narendra Modi government on June 3, has also called into question the role of NGOs involved in the Kudankulam

protests and gives details of foreign contributions received by them.

The report says that eight out of 11 NGOs involved in the protests were primarily funded by Europe-based donors who allegedly pumped in Rs 80 crore between 200506 and 2010-11.

Of this, Rs 43 crore flowed into Tuticorin Multipurpose Social Service and Rs 20 crore to Tuticorin Diocesan Association.

In the 2012 document, the government said one of the NGOs involved in Kundankulam protests was facing a CBI inquiry for contributions received by it and that 30% of the 3000-odd foreign contributions in the period had been cornered by Tamil Nadu.

The outfit under CBI inquiry — Coimbatore-based Tamil Nadu Muslim Muneetra Kazagham (TNMMK) — had supported the anti-Kudankulam protests and some of its members were arrested during an agitation in September 2012. Other NGOs under investigation by the Tamil Nadu Police include AID India (Chennai), Saccer (Nagercoil) and Centre for Promotion of Social Concern.

Following vociferous protests by NGOs, the government had alleged the Kudankulam stir was being funded from abroad by vested interests and put 77 NGOs under the scanner for funding. The document also named some other states where NGOs had received a large number of contributions.

These included Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala and Maharashtra with 4,500-6,000 contributions during the period.

Working with the Government

80% of national NGOs work with govt

Rupali Mukherjee, 80% of desi NGOs work with govt: Study, Feb 27, 2017: The Times of India

India's social sector programmes are usually believed to be poorly planned and shoddily implemented.But a new study that analysed Indian non-profits says that India -faced with a plethora of challenges -is actually offering lessons across the world, and particularly to the US.

The other surprising finding is that instead of disrupting the government, about 80% of these fast-growing organisations that were studied seek to collaborate with it to reach out to the socially and economically challenged population.

The study done by philanthropy advisory Bridgespan Group, published in Stanford Social Innovation Review, says there may not be a better lab than India for studying the challenges non-profits face in trying to scale up, while stretched for resources. “Close to 80% of Indian organisations we studied apply the collaborative mindset with government institutions -the most prevalent,“ said Soumitra Pandey , co-author of the study and partner, Bridgespan. “They seek either to fill gaps in existing programmes, like Akshaya Patra's assistance with providing midday meals to school children, or to spur innovation by example (Agastya's hands-on learning program mes in science, technology , engineering and math delivered to government schools by van or motorcycle).“

Bridgespan studied 20 Indian non-profit organisations, including Aravind Eye Care, EducateGirls, Karuna Trust, Mamta Health Institute, Pratham, SEWA, Gram Vikas and Goonj, that have deftly managed the tension between scale and scarcity. It identified five recurring mindsets that India's non profit leaders use to maximise outreach and assist millions of people in need.

The first was the denominator mindset: When thinking about a non-profit's impact as a fraction, the denominator represents the total size of the need, and numerator the quantity of need that the non-profit is currently meeting. Many of India's nonprofits use denominator thinking to stay focused on addressing the total size of the need, rather than on perfecting a solution that serves relatively few.

The second was the dignity mindset: Elevating the humanity of each participant is critical when confronted with addressing the needs of millions. Many of India's non-profits focus on preserving an individual's dignity in an effort to avoid reducing and compartmentalising the human experience into numbers on a spreadsheet.

The third was the radical frugality mindset: When scarcity abounds, most Indian non-profits not only focus on reducing costs, but find ways of using frugality to scale up. They optimise operational expenses and rein in capital expenditures, while at the same time ensuring that no cuts are made in areas that might starve innovation.

The fourth was the innovative hiring mindset: One of the biggest impediments to a non-profit's growth in India is the scarcity of people who have the right skills to fill certain types of jobs. Some non-profits have responded by searching for people in overlooked but promising corners of the talent pool.

The fifth and final was the collaborative mindset: While would-be innovators in Western countries tend to focus more on “disrupting the system“ or “thinking outside the box“, many of India's larger non-profits have sought to innovate within the system, and make government a vital ally.

Foreign funding

Rose between 2012 and 2014

Foreign funding to NGOs rising since '12, Nov 23 2016 : The Times of India

The government told the Lok Sabha that foreign contributions received by NGOs had been rising steadily since 2012-13, totalling Rs 1,452 crore in 2014-15.

This, incidentally , was the year when the Modi government carried out a comprehensive review of foreign-funded NGOs, leading to the cancellation of Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) licen ces of 10,020 NGOs.

In comparison, Rs 1,152 crore of foreign funds were received by NGOs in 2012-13 and Rs 1,309 crore in 2013-14

2013-14: Foreign funding increases by 13%

The Times of India, Dec 03 2015

Foreign funding to NGOs jumps 13% in 2013-14

Total foreign donations to Indian NGOs jumped by over 13% in 2013-14 as compared to 2012-13, the government informed the Rajya Sabha. Minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju, while replying to a question, said foreign contributions totaling Rs 13,051 crore were donated to 17,616 NGOs, as against Rs 11,527 crore donations made to 20,497 NGOs in 2012-13 and Rs 11,558 crore to 22,747 NGOs in 2011-12. Rijiju said NGOs are required to seek registration or prior permission under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 2010 to receive foreign contribution.

Some well-funded NGOs

Government cracks down on NGOs which scoop Rs 10,000 crore a year in foreign donations... but don't bother to file returns

By ABHISHEK BHALLA

Daily Mail

31 July 2013 |

Missionaries of Charity in West Bengal recieved funding of Rs 62.29 crore

The foreign hand is rocking quite a few cradles in India.

It's been believed for long that that Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) get a major part of their funding from overseas.

Now it's all come together in a government file, tabulated and troubling. What's really set alarm bells ringing is that an average Rs 10,000 crore pours into the country every year in form of donations to NGOs from organisations across the world.

Getting foreign funding is no crime; flouting guidelines under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 2010 that governs such transfers is.

The government is warier of NGOs in the wake of persistent allegations about their role in recent agitations like the one against the Kudankulam nuclear plant, or those sparked by Delhi's December 16 gang-rape, or even those led by Anna Hazare.

Sample this: In the last two years, Chennai- based NGO World Vision of India has received Rs 442.68 crore, making it the highest paid organisation consecutively in 2009-10 and 2010-11.

Despite being the highest paid, the NGO has not filed its returns under FCRA.

It is a Christian charity organisation focused on children's well being and humanitarian efforts following disasters.

Another NGO, the Oxfam Trust, Delhi, got Rs 71 crore - and did not file returns. Bal Raksha Bharat, also Delhi-based, got Rs 67.57 crore but filed no returns.

NGOs and institutes in the Capital account for the larger part of foreign contributions; many FCRA defaulters are also from here.

There are close to 700 defaulting NGOs for the financial year 2011-12 in Delhi. Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of such defaulters at 2,453.

All are under the home ministry scanner now.

In the last three years, the home ministry has cancelled the FCRA registration of more than 4,000 institutes; over 17,000 regular defaulters are under scrutiny.

The US continues to be the highest donor country, followed by the UK and Germany. While huge amounts are pouring in from developed countries, countries like North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Tonga, Kyrgyzstan, Burkino Faso, Djibouti are also among the donor countries.

Over the last three years more than Rs 30,000 crore has been received by organisations across the country.

Institutes in Delhi have amassed the highest amount touching Rs 6,000 crore. The number of organisations and entities receiving funds from abroad has been going up steadily.

According to the latest home ministry report on FCRA in 2010-11 the number of institutes that received foreign funding was 22,735-a jump from the previous years.

In 2009-10 this number was 21,508 and in 2008-09 it was 20,088. In the last decade the number of associations registered under FCRA has doubled.

The number was 21,244 in 1999-2000 and it is 40,575 in 2010-11. Intelligence agencies are maintaining a strong vigil on the donations being made from associations abroad.

"There are several organisations that are under scanner and action would be taken if any wrongdoing is found," said a home ministry official.

Sources said it is feared that the foreign aid can be misused and diverted for purposes other than mentioned.

Fearing this misuse and money laundering the FCRA Act of 2010 has made the procedure for foreign funding stringent. Action against the dubious organisations is being taken.

While 72 organisations have been prohibited from getting funds from abroad, accounts of 32 NGOs have been frozen, and 24 cases referred to the CBI.

In some cases, state police forces are probing illegalities committed by these organisations. In many cases the government has put the organisations on notice for not filing their returns.

Sources said the defaulters are required to a pay a penalty, and if they don't, cancellation of FCRA registration is the likely outcome. It's not just NGOs that have been added to the list of defaulters by MHA for not filing their returns.

The list shows that top educational institutes in the national capital have also flouted the guidelines by not filing their returns in the previous two years.

The University of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Indian Institute of Technology, Lady Irwin College, Indian Council for Medical Research, School of Planning and Architecture, Indira Gandhi Open National Open University, International Management Institute and Gargi College are among the 693 organisations in Delhi that have not filed their returns under FCRA.

The home ministry report indicates that most of the funds are meant for establishment expenses, rural development, welfare of children, construction and maintenance of schools and colleges, grant of stipend and scholarships, AIDS awareness, research, awareness campaigns, welfare and maintenance of religious functionaries and schools, welfare of women and construction of hostel for poor students.

Foreign-funded NGOs (with FCRA licences) with malign agendas

Foreign-funded NGOs stalling devpt: IB repor

The Times of India Jun 12 2014

To Muzzle Dissent, Say Activists An Intelligence Bureau report has accused “foreign-funded” NGOs such as Greenpeace, Cordaid, Amnesty and ActionAid of “serving as tools for foreign policy interests of western governments” by sponsoring agitations against nuclear and coal-fired power plants across the country.

The NGOs, said to be working through a network of local organizations such as PUCL and Narmada Bachao Andolan, have negatively impacted GDP growth by 2-3%, claims the IB report sent to the PMO and other government agencies.

Environmental activists joined Greenpeace in rubbishing the IB report. Greenpeace said it was a conscious attempt by the country’s premier intelligence agency to crush and stifle opposing voices in civil society. The organization also wrote to the home minister, requesting him to share a copy of the report “to know and understand impacts of this labeling”.

As far as the source of funding is concerned, the NGO said, “Greenpeace India is funded by individual supporters in India. Greenpeace does not accept any donation from corporate or government entities.” Environmentalist Ramesh Agrawal, who recently won the Goldman Environmental Prize for resisting destruction of forests by private mining companies in Chhatisgarh, said the report was an attempt to muzzle dissent. “Environmentalists working on the ground have always been branded as anti-development.

At a time when global warming is threatening us and air pollution is the most serious public health problem, why is the government suppressing voices of dissent?“ he asked.

Holland's CORDAID and oil drilling in Manipur

IB: Dutch-funded NGO bid to stall oil drilling in NE

Bharti Jain New Delhi:

TNN

The Times of India Jun 14 2014

The Dutch government-funded CORDAID and its associate outfits had organized an elaborate training session for northeastern NGO activists in Shillong last year, teaching them how to use GPS tracking to map oil wells, mines, dams, forests and habitation for an updated GIS platform on extractives in the region.

The database would be used to facilitate targeted local protests and international activism against extractive industries like oil drilling in Manipur, according to an Intelligence Bureau report on the impact of foreign-funded NGOs' activism on India's GDP growth.

The trainers at the session, two Dutch and an American, constantly told the participants that oil reserves in the northeast were as large as those in the entire Gulf region and that the resources must be preserved by the local tribals for their own use. They alleged that the government of India was, in collaboration with MNCs, “stealing the resources of the region and refusing to remove the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (from Manipur) as it needed the Indian Army to extract those resources“.

The trainers insisted that until the rights of communities over their land and resources were recognized, Jubilant Energy , engaged in oil drilling in Manipur, and the government should stop all petroleum and drilling activity in Manipur.

According to the IB report, CORDAID has added `extractive industries in the northeast' as one of the focal points for its interventions in India.

2006-15: Foreign-funded NGOs' registrations cancelled

Home ministry cancels registration of 9,000 foreign-funded NGOs

Aloke Tikku, Hindustan Times, New Delhi| Apr 28, 2015

The order to cancel the registration of such organisations came days before the Centre’s effort to tighten the grip on prominent NGOs that receive foreign funds like Greenpeace India and the Ford Foundation. (Shankar Mourya/HT Photo)

2006-2009: 4,138 registrations cancelled

In the Manmohan Singh government the home ministry issued notices to over 21,000 NGOs that hadn’t filed their returns from 2006-2009. But it eventually cancelled the registration only in 4,138 cases where letters from the Centre were returned undelivered by postal authorities.

2015: 8,975 registrations cancelled

[For the period 2009-12] In an order, the home ministry said the registration of foreign-funded 8,975 NGOs that had neither filed their annual returns for three years (beginning 2009) nor given any explanation for the delay, stood cancelled with immediate effect. The ministry also directed the district magistrate concerned to “manage the assets” of these NGOs in any manner “considered necessary and in public interest”.

As part of this exercise, the ministry had issued notices through September and October 2014 to 10,343 organisations across the country that had not filed their annual returns for 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Only 229 organisations had responded to home ministry’s showcause notice. These responses “are being examined on a case to case basis”, the order by the home ministry’s deputy secretary said.

What the rules require

The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) requires every registered NGO to submit its returns annually, irrespective of whether it received foreign funding in that year.

As per rules, the ministry can levy a penalty of up to 5% of the foreign funds received, or Rs 50,000 — whichever is higher.

25 NGOs lose FCRA licences, in national interest/ 2016

Bharti Jain, `Anti-national acts': 25 NGOs lose foreign fund licences, Nov 05 2016 : The Times of India

The Union home ministry has refused to renew the registration of 25 NGOs under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010, for their alleged indulgence in “activities not conducive to national interest“.

This action comes after the cancellation of the FCRA licences of 11,319 NGOs for failing to apply for renewal within the deadline.

The FCRA licence renewal of another 1,736 NGOs was withheld “for non-submission of documents or deficient documents or other statutory shortcoming within the stipulated time“.

As a result, the total number of NGOs that can receive foreign funding has now shrunk to around 20,000, down from 33,138, in the country . A final call on approving the renewal of the FCRA registration of the 1,736 NGOs will be taken after they explain deficiencies in their applications by November 8.

While home ministry officials were tight-lipped on the identity of the 25 NGOs struck off the foreign funding list, the names of over 11,000 NGOs whose FCRA registrations are deemed cancelled -for not applying for renewal -includes several big names like Oxfam India Trust, Adani Foundation, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Trust, Office of the Chief Executive Officer of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Indian Medical Association, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Mumbaibased Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre and The Loyola College Society, Chennai.

According to a senior ministry officer, of the total 33,138 NGOs registered under the FCRA, renewal of 27,810 was due this year. The government, while extending validity of their licence till October 31, 2016 had in March directed them to submit ap plications for renewal by June 30, 2016. Of the 27,810 NGOs, only 16,491 sought renewal, while 11,319 did not submit any application. The government, in an order issued on November 2, said the licence of these 11,319 NGOs was “deemed cancelled“ from November 1, 2016.

As for 16,491 NGOs who applied for renewal of their FCRA registration within the deadline, the government found applications of 14,730 in order and approved renewal. Of the remaining 1,761 NGOs, the documentation and papers submitted by 1,736 -of which Mata Amritha nandmayi Math and Rama Krishna Sevashram -was found as inadequate.

The application of the remaining 25 NGOs was rejected despite complete documentation as the government found them to be allegedly working against “national interest“. “NGOs that are not serving larger national interest or indulging in subversive activities should not be allowed foreign funding,“ said a senior home ministry officer.

The officer said the 11,319 NGOs which did not bother to apply for renewal “were history as far as FCRA was concerned,“ he stated.

24 NGOs denied FCRA licences

Bharti Jain, Jaising NGO, 24 others denied FCRA licences, Nov 12 2016 : The Times of India

`Activities Not Conducive To National Interest'

An NGO run by lawyer Indira Jaising who had sought a reprieve for 1993 Mumbai blast convict Yakub Memon, one suspected of “funding proselytisation“ and yet another that opposed the Koodankulam nuclear project are among 25 NGOs whose FCRA licence was not renewed for “anti-national“ activities.

Jaising's Lawyers Collective and Compassion East India, an affiliate of US-based NGO Compassion International, are among the NGOs that cannot receive foreign funds for alleged activities “not conductive to national interest“. According to official sources, Lawyers Collective, Compassion East India, People's Watch, Sanchal Foundation Hazards Centre, Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF) and Institute of Public Health (Bengaluru) are among the 25 NGOs that had applied for renewal of their five-year license under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act, 2010.

The applications filed ahead of expiry of licence on October 31, 2016 were declined by the home ministry last month after intelligence agencies flagged their “anti-national activities and violations of FCRA provisions,“ said an official. Confirming that Lawyers Collective had been derecognized under FCRA, its managing trustee Indira Jaising told TOI on Friday: “Yes, they have (refused to renew our FCRA licence)....We are looking at all legal options.“ Jaising and her husband Anand Grover had moved a last-minute petition in SC last year to challenge the rejection of Yakub Memon's clemency plea.Jaising has since sought to link the government's crackdown on her NGO, which led to suspension of its FCRA license in June this year, to the petition moved by her on Yakub's behalf. Another NGO debarred from receiving foreign funds is Compassion East India, a Kolkata-based affiliate of US charity Compassion International that Indian intelligence agencies suspect of “funding proselytisation and evangelism in the name of child welfare“. Compassion International was put on `prior permission' list under FCRA earlier this year, requiring all its donations to Indian NGOS to be cleared by the home ministry .

People's Watch, the NGO founded by Henri Tiphagne who has been associated with the Koodankulam protests in Tamil Nadu, was refused renewal of registration for “inciting and sponsoring agitations against development projects in India at the cost of its economic well-being“, claimed the official.

INSAF's FCRA license was not renewed after intelligence agencies pointed to its role in anti-GM food agitations, TOI has learnt. INSAF has already challenged the home ministry's decision in court, submitting that no reason was assigned while communicating the non-renewal.

Another Delhi-based Santhal Foundation unit was taken off FCRA list based on inputs that pointed to its alleged “interactions with Left-wing extremist elements“, said an intelligence source. Bengaluru-based Institute of Public Health, was denied FCRA registration for using its NGO “front“ to allegedly “lobby for Western corporates and businesses,“ the source added.

NGOs with a religious agenda

Compassion International

Placed on the `prior permission' list/ 2016

Curbs on American NGO linked to `religious field' to stay for now, Oct 19 2016 : The Times of India

The government has no immediate plans to take American NGO Compassion International off the `prior permission' list, which means that it will have to keep seeking the home ministry's nod before making foreign contributions in India. The reluctance of the government to show any leniency towards the international donor comes despite an intervention on its behalf by US secretary of state John Kerry.

Kerry , during a visit to India in September 2016, is said to have asked external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to reconsider the decision to place Compassion International in the `prior permission' category . The donor was put on the watchlist in March after Indian intelligence agencies reported several FCRA violations, including contributions to Indian NGOs like Caruna Bal Vikas being diverted to organisations working in the reli gious and socio-religious fields. Many of the end-user NGOs were suspected to be involved in proselytisation.

“The concerns that led us to put Compassion International in `prior permission' category , as per provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, still remain. There is no proposal as of now to reconsider our decision for mandatory home ministry clearance to all its donations to Indian NGOs,“ said a home ministry officer.

Incidentally , when Kerry took up Compassion's case with Swaraj during his visit here, she is believed to have told him that all NGOs operating in India were expected to adhere to the country's rules and regulations.

A home ministry official on Tuesday clarified that there was no bar on foreign funding of Indian NGOs by Compassion International. “We pre-approved 34 donations by the American NGOs prior to Kerry's visit here (after it was placed on `prior permission'), and 10 after the visit.This was after some of the recipient NGOs approached us claiming that they were not involved in religious activities, including proselytisation, and we found their plea to be genuine. The home ministry's nod for the recent donations by Compassion International was not linked to Kerry's visit here,“ said a home ministry official.

Blacklisting of NGOs

March 2015: 69 NGOs blacklisted

Of 69 blacklisted NGOs, 30 work for minorities

Deeptiman Tiwary The Times of India Mar 05 2015

The main states in which the 69 blacklisted NGOs worked and how many worked for the minorities

Prohibited From Getting Foreign Funds

The government has banned 30 NGOs, ostensibly engaged in welfare of minorities, from receiving foreign funds after adverse reports about their activities from intelligence agencies.These are part of 69 NGOs which have been prohibited by the government from receiving foreign funds under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA). Andhra Pradesh accounted for most of these “dubious“ NGOs followed by Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. Of the 14 NGOs blacklisted by the home ministry in Andhra Pradesh, eight are engaged in minority welfare. While seven of these are Christian institutions, one is an Islamic education association.

Of the 12 NGOs banned in Tamil Nadu, four are Christian organizations while one is Islamic. In Gujarat, of the five organizations banned, all except one is engaged in Muslim welfare.

Across the country , 15 organizations each engaged in Muslim and Christian welfare have been banned from receiving foreign funds.

The information was shared by minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju in reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Tuesday . Home ministry regularly reviews and audits flow of funds in NGOs from abroad and issues notices to those not filing their returns properly. It also initiates action against those not following the FCRA regulations while receiving foreign funds and blacklists those suspected to be working against the interests of the country . NGOs in India receive foreign donations in excess of Rs 10,000 crore annually from over 150 countries with the US and Europe being top donors apart from United Arab Emirates.

Registrations of 4,138 associations under the FCRA were cancelled for non-submission of annual returns from 2006-07 to 2008-09. Among these, Tamil Nadu accounted for the maximum NGOs (794) followed by Andhra Pradesh (670) and Kerala (450).

Recently , over 31,000 NGOs were served notices for not filing annual returns on their foreign donations. In 2011-12, notices were sent to 21,493 associations which had not submitted annual returns under the FCRA for the years 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09. In 2014, notices were issued to 10,343 associations which had not filed annual re turns from 2009-10 to 2011-12.

Rijiju had earlier informed Parliament that adverse reports were received from intelligence agencies against NGOs such as Tuticorin Diocesan Association; East Coast Research and Development Trust, Thoothukudi; Centre for Promotion and Social Concerns, Madurai and Greenpeace India Society , Chennai.

“Based on inspectionsinvestigations, the FCRA registration of Tuticorin Diocesan Association and Centre for Promotion and Social Concerns were suspended and their bank accounts frozen. The FCRA registration of East Coast Research and Development Trust was cancelled,“ he had said.

The Modi government has mounted greater scrutiny on the activities of NGOs and their funding. In a report leaked last year, IB claimed a host of NGOs, including Greenpeace India, were working against the interests of the nation at the behest of foreign powers and that their activities had cost the country 2-3% of GDP .

The government recently prevented Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai from flying to London to address a gathering.

A complete list of the 69 NGOs blacklisted in March 2015

VaniIndia

1. Society for People’s Action for Development, 11-4-5, Donica Road, Chenchupet, Tenali, District – Guntur, Andhra Pradesh

2. Action for Welfare and Awakening in Rural Environment(Aware), Administrative Office, 5-9-24/78, Lake Hill Road, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh-500463.

3. Agape Helping Ministries, 80-24-4/1, Jayasri Gardens, A.V.A. road, Rajahmundry, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh

4. Anjumane Hussamia Educational Association, 22-6-785, Hussamia Manzil, Panjeshah, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

5. Aware (India) Foundation (AIF) H. 8-2-703/A/C/B 5, Banjara Hills Road No. 12, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

6. Christ’s Helping Hand Children’s Home, Near B.G.R. High School, Alcot, Gardens, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh,

7. Christian Outreach Centre, Rayadupalem, Kakinada-5, Andhra Pradesh

8. Christian Outreach Ministries Properties Trust, H. No. 11-6-23, Laximpur, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh

9. Christian Outreach Ministries, H. No. 11-6-23, Laximpur, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh

10. Good Samaritan Evangelical and Social Welfare Association, Sathyavedu, Krishna Dt.-517-588 Andhra Pradesh

11. John Abraham Memorial Bethany Home, TANDUA, P.O.Bag NO.3, TANDUA-501141, Rangareddy Distt. Andhra Pradesh

12. John Abraham Memorial Bethany Home, House No.6-19, Plot No. 342, Vivekanagar Colony, Kukatpally, PO, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh-500072.

13. Matsyagandhi Mahila Welfare Association, Appu Ghar Fishermans Colony, Visakhapatnam (U), Andhra Pradesh

14. Andhra Pradesh Pragati Orphen Home, Pagati Nagar, Old Town, Tanuku- 534211 Andhra Pradesh

15. Chandigarh Apostolic Christian Assembly, Chandigarh Ministry,123/1 Sector- 55,Chandigarh

16. Bhartiya Cattle Resource Development, D-37, South Extension, Part- II, New Delhi

17. IGEP Foundation, C 3A/86C, Janakpuri, New Delhi

18. Saraswati Charitable Trust, M-109, Greater Kailash-II, New Delhi- 110048

19. Gujarat Gujarat Idar-E-Talimate Islamia, (Darul-Ulm Shahe-Alam), Jamalpur Road, Ahmedabad, Gujarat- 380001

20. Jameah Rashidiyah Trust, Surat- Via-Kim At/PO Nani Naroli, Surat, Gujarat- 394110

21. Madrasa Jamiyad Ravatul-e-Hat, Porbandar Bye Pass Road, New Micro Town, District-Mongrol, Junagadh-362225, Gujarat

22. Samadhan Foundation, Chilakota Block No. 1564 D, Khadda Colony, Dahod, Gujarat-389160

23. Samast Muslim Khalifa Sunnatwal Jamat Navsari, 1/1057, Char Pul Road, Navsari, Gujarat- 396445

24. Haryana Organisation for Progress and Ecology (HOPE) H. No.1592, Sector – 15, Sonepat, Haryana- 131001

25. Jammu & Kashmir Akandar Tryst C/o Muslim Augaf Trust, MujahidManjil, Srinagar Jammu & Kashmir

26. Public Relief Trust C/o Prof Yunus-Al-Umar, Islamic Study Circle, Augaf Building, Badshah Chowk, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir

27. Falah – e- Aam Trust C/o G.M. Butt, Village Lathishah, Sapore, Baramula, Jammu & Kashmir

28. J & K Muslim Conference Wazirabad, H. NO. 114, Sardar Manzil, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir

29. Asian Aid Organisation Welfare Trust, No. 55, Kodandaramn Garden, 2nd Stage, Coxtown, Jeevanahalli, Bangalore, Karnataka 560005

30. Tibetan Culture & Education Foundation, C-10, Devetha Plaza, Residency Road, Bangalore, Karnataka

31. Action for people’s Participation and Environmental Care, A-62, Ashoka Marine Drive, Ernakulam, Cochin, Kerala

32. Islamiya College kuttiadi, Calicut Distt. Kerala

33. Social Action Movement of Idukki, Pulianmela- 685565 District Idukki, Kerala

34. Society for Action with the Poor, H. No. 126, Ward No. V, Manglath, Pannivizha, Adoor PO, Pathanamthitta Dt. Kerala Pin- 591523

35. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Madhya Pradesh, Luther Bhawan, Post Box No. 30, Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh-48000

36. Reach Valley View Academy, 21/B Shreeram Nagar, Indore, Madhya Pradesh

37. Iqra Education Society, Haji Gulam Nagar, Mehrun Jalgaon, Maharashtra -425135

38. Khair-e-Ummat Trust (KEUT), 51-55, B.I.T. Chawl, 2nd floor, Immamwada, Compound, Kambekar Street, Mumbai, Maharashtra- 400009

39. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society H- 58, Old Khandala Road, Lonavla, Maharashtra –410401

40. M. A. Wahab Islamic Public School Usmanganj, Lilong, Manipur 795130

41. Adima Jati Seva Samiti (AJSS), Circular Road, Phulbani Sahi, Kandhamal, Orissa- 762002

42. Health Education Development Society, A-6, Tribeni, Sahidnagar, Bhubaneswar, Khurda, Orissa

43. Society for Development Action (SODA), Iindapahi, PB No.16, Baripada, Dt. Mayurbhanj, Orissa

44. The Association, Society for Awareness of Human Society & RuralAdvancement (SAHARA), Kalahandi, P.O. Numper Vis M. Rampur Kalahandi, Orissa- 766102

45. Vikash Parishad Gandhi Nagar, Korsput-764020 Distt. Koraput, Orissa

46. Harpawat Charitable Trust, 30 C, Madhuban, Behind Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal, Udaipur, Rajasthan

47. Harvest Ministries, Door No. 4/56, Arul Illam 5th Cross Street, Shanthi Nagar, Palayamkottai, Thirunelveli, Tamil Nadu-627002/ Door No. 15C, Opposite to World Gymn, Ratnada Subji Mandi, Jaipur, Rajasthan-342011

48. New Life Community Development Society, Mubarak Bagh, Ajmer Road, Jaipur, Rajasthan- 302006

49. Aid India, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

50. Association Madras Church of Christ, No. 11, Shenoy Road, Nungambakkam, Madras, Tamil Nadu- 600034

51. Nadu Church of Christ Trust, Carmel Nagar, Siluvathur, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu

52. Community Service Society, S/83, Keelaperuvilltai, Asaripallam 629 201, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu

53. Development Organisation for Women (DOW), P.O. Batlagundu Distt. Dindigul, Tamil Nadu

54. Good Vision, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu

55. Mount View Academy, Madurai and Reach International Education and Social Welfare Trust, Kodimangalam, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

56. Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) No. 6, Vadaraikayyaar, Street, Chennai. Tamil Nadu

57. Reach in the Nilgiris, Plot No. 99, Sai Deep Apartments, VGP Saravanan Nagar, Madambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadui-600073

58. Saccer, Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu

59. Trust for Rural Uplift and Education, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu

60. Tuticorin Diocese Association, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu

61. Heritage Foundation, Village- Badhwar, Bye pass Road, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

62. Jamai Atul Falah, Bilariganj, Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh

63. Khwaja Khushal Charitable Trust, Vill-Bihargarh, PO-Morna, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh-251316

64. Maa Research Foundation, 31/10, Siddantha Colony, Arya Samaj Road, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh – 251 002

65. Dhe Chen Chokhor Kagyupa Monastery, Clement Town, Dehradun, Uttrakhand

66. Shrimati Jashoda Devi Foundation Society, Pauri Garwal, Uttrakhand

67. Calcutta Urban Service, 14/2, 1st Floor, Sudder Street, Kolkata, West Bengal-700016

68. Children’s Development Communities India, 134, S.N. Banerjee Road, Calcutta, West Bengal

69. Congregation of the Daughters of St. Anne, St. Anne Convent, Assammore, P.O. Mohit Nagar, Jalpaigiri, West Bengal- 735101

April: licences of 8,975 NGOs cancelled

Govt cancels licences of 8,975 NGOs for failing to file annual returns

The Times of India Bharti Jain,TNN | Apr 27, 2015

After suspending the FCRA registration of Greenpeace India and putting foreign donor Ford Foundation on the watchlist, the government cancelled the licences of 8,975 NGOs for failing to file annual returns for the years 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12.

The home ministry order communicated to the NGOs, to district magistrates of the concerned districts where the NGOs are based and to the RBI read:

"..in exercise of the power conferred by Section 14 of the FCRA 2010, the Central government hereby cancels, for violation of Section 18 thereof, read with Rule 17(2) of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rule, 2011, the certificate of registration of 8975 associations...which includes 510 associations to whom notices were sent but returned undelivered and 632 associations from whom no reply has been received to the notices within the stipulated period".

June 2015: 4,470 NGOs debarred from, foreign funds

Fresh crackdown: Licence of 4,470 NGOs cancelled

PTI | Jun 9, 2015

In another round of action against erring NGOs, the government has cancelled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act licence of 4,470 entities, which bars them from receiving foreign funds.

The decision has been taken by the Union home ministry after examination of their activities that allegedly include non-filing of annual returns and other anomalies.

All associations were given proper notice by the foreigners division of the home ministry with adequate time to reply before their FCRA licences were cancelled, official sources said.

Prominent organisations whose FCRA licences were cancelled include

Escorts Heart Institute

Gargi College, Delhi

Gujarat National Law University

Kabir (floated by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia)

Lady Irwin College Delhi

Panjab University, Chandigarh

Supreme Court Bar Association

Vikram Sarabhai Foundation

Greenpeace India

See Greenpeace India