Headlines
10,000 NGO registrations cancelled, foreign aid set to drop
By
Abhishek WaghmareForeign funding for Indian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) doubled in 2014-15 over the previous year, but with 10,000 NGO registrations cancelled in 2015, foreign contributions are likely to drop, according the latest data on foreign contributions.
Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh (unified), Karnataka and Kerala together got 65 per cent of foreign aid coming to India, the data, tabled in the Lok Sabha on July 26, 2016, revealed.
Of Rs 45,300 crore ($7 billion) in foreign funding to Indian NGOs over four years -- 2011-12 to 2014-15 -- Rs 29,000 crore($ 4.5 billion) was received by organisations in the national capital and these four (five after Telangana) states, an IndiaSpend analysis reveals.
Organisations in Delhi received Rs 10,500 crore ($ 1.6 billion), while each of the five states received close to Rs 5,000 crore ($770 million) over the past four years.
There are 33,091 NGOs registered to receive foreign funds-under the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Act (FCRA) -- after the registrations of 10,000 NGOs were cancelled by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2015.
Among the reasons for cancellation: Not filing returns, misutilisation of funds and accepting funds for “prohibited activitiesâ€, which include funding legal costs of bail, writ petitions of Indian NGOs and their activists, and undisclosed payment of salaries by foreign NGOs to foreign activists.
Foreign funding doubled in 2014-15 to Rs 22,137 crore ($ 3.4 billion) compared to Rs 12,000 crore ($ 1.8 billion) in 2013-14.
Foreign funds to Indian NGOs from 165 countries, most for social sector
India receives foreign contributions from 165 countries, of roughly 200 countries identified by the World Bank.
Health, education and child-welfare together received Rs 4,500 crore ($ 690 million) of the Rs 12,000 crore received in 2011-12, according to our analysis of the 2011-12 annual report of the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Act, the latest available.
While NGOs associated with religious activities collected Rs 870 crore, NGOs with research activities got Rs 539 crore in 2011-12.
International NGOs free to fund in India but only to govt
As many as 109 international organisations, including various branches of the United Nations, World Bank, World Health Organisation, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organisation and Asian Development Bank, are not treated as a foreign source while funding projects in India.
“The World Bank funding in 2013-14 was $5.2 billion (Rs 33000 crore).This funding goes to the government and not to any NGO,â€, wrote Prof. Trilochan Sastry of Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), an advocacy, in a blog post.
A writ petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court by ADR to constitute an independent body to administer enforcement of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. The case is currently being heard.
(29.07.2016 - In arrangement with IndiaSpend.org, a data-driven, non-profit, public interest journalism platform, with whom Abhishek Waghmare is an analyst. The views expressed are those of IndiaSpend. The author can be reached at [email protected])
2 minutes ago
Gates Foundation-backed Axmed raises funds to help poor countries access critical medicines
7 minutes ago
Neeraj Chopra confirms participation in first domestic tournament after 3 years
7 minutes ago
American-Hungarian physicist may be key to answering 150-yr-old question of what exactly is a game of skill
8 minutes ago
PSG's Mbappe walks off when asked about Real Madrid after Champions League loss
10 minutes ago
Deepika reveals Big B loves telling everyone about how much she eats
11 minutes ago
KJo describes 'Kal Ho Na Ho' title track as immortal melody about hope, love, loss
11 minutes ago
Actress-model Olivia Culpo gets busy planning her 'logistically complicated' wedding
12 minutes ago
Kevan Lannister of ‘Game Of Thrones’, Ian Gelder, passes away at 74
13 minutes ago
What made Madhuri Dixit take a break from acting to start her family
14 minutes ago
Why Ashutosh Rana gets the shivers when he sees himself on screen
14 minutes ago
Priyanka shares how ‘Heads of State’ set was full of laughter and professionalism
27 minutes ago
Canara Bank posts 18.4 pc jump in Q4 net profit, declares dividend of 16 per share
27 minutes ago
NSE, BSE to conduct special trading session on May 18