Govt prohibits 44 NGOs from receiving foreign contribution

New Delhi, Oct 22 (UNI) The Government has referred 17 associations to CBI to investigate for violation of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 1976, while 44 associations have been prohibited from receiving foreign contributions.

The 44 associations have been prohibited from receiving foreign funds on the basis of various complaints received and inquiries made. About 26 associations have been placed in Prior Permission category and bank accounts of 11 have been frozen.

A list of associations against which action has been taken for violation of various provisions of the Act, is available on Home Ministry's website: http://mha.nic.in/fcra.htm.

According to sources, there is no blacklist of associations, registered under the Act. However, as and when, complaints relating to the violation of provisions of the Act against associations come to the notice of the Government, appropriate action is taken against them under the same. Such actions may include prohibiting the association from receiving foreign contribution, placing the association in the Prior Permission category, prosecuting the association in a court of law and freezing the bank account of the association.

In case, associations are found to be indulging in serious violations such as misappropriation or diversion of foreign contribution for purpose other than the stated objective of the association, the case is referred to CBI for a detailed investigation and prosecution, if necessary. Violations which are unintentional and not of a serious nature are condoned under the provisions of section 31 of the Act.

Association seeking prior permission for receiving foreign contribution from a foreign source are required to submit a commitment letter from the donor agency specifying the amount of the foreign contribution to be received and purpose for which it is proposed to be utilised. Such permission is granted after carrying out a verification of the antecedents and activities of the recipient organisation. In case, the amount of foreign contribution proposed to be received is above a certain threshold limit, a detailed verification of the antecedents of the donor agency is also carried out.

UNI AJ GL RR HS2035