In a recent development, the Union Home Ministry has revoked the registration of at least five Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for alleged violations of provisions under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), according to official sources on Tuesday.
The affected NGOs include the CNI Synodical Board of Social Service, Voluntary Health Association of India, Indo-Global Social Service Society, Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action, and Evangelical Fellowship of India.
Following the cancellation of their FCRA registration, these NGOs will no longer be permitted to receive foreign contributions or utilize existing funds allocated for their operations.
Sources within the ministry revealed that the decision to cancel the FCRA registration was made due to allegations of these NGOs utilizing funds for activities outside their designated mandates. The organizations were found to have engaged in actions contrary to the provisions outlined in the FCRA.
As of July 17, 2023, there were 16,301 NGOs possessing valid FCRA licenses. Over the past five years, the Centre has annulled the FCRA licenses of more than 6,600 NGOs for various violations of the law. In the last decade alone, FCRA licenses of 20,693 NGOs have been rescinded.
According to data presented in Parliament last year, a total of Rs 55,741.51 crore in foreign contributions was received by 13,520 FCRA-registered associations or NGOs between the financial years 2019-2020 and 2021-2022.
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