No FCRA permits for NGOs linked to anti-national, anti-development protests, forced religious conversions: MHA

New Delhi: Amid claims that there is no clarity on the reasons for denying permission to collect foreign funds, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said authorities can prevent NGOs involved in anti-developmental activities and forceful religious conversion as well as those with links with terrorist or radical outfits from receiving donations from abroad.

A detailed notice issued on November 8 also said NGOs involved in inciting protests with malicious intentions and those not utilising foreign funding as per its aims and objectives and those not presenting its account statements for six financial years will also see their registration under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) cancelled.

The notice came after the MHA received representations that there is no clarity on not giving registration or renewing it. NGOs have to be registered under FCRA to be eligible for collecting foreign funds.

According to the MHA, an NGO could also face trouble in collecting foreign funds if the authorities have inputs that receipt of such donations could affect social and religious harmony or association is involved in induced or forceful religious conversion or proselytization.

Non-utilisation of foreign funds for projects, and not fulfilling the criteria of spending a minimum amount of Rs 15 lakh of its core activities for the welfare of society during the last three financial years were also included as reasons for cancellation of permission to collect foreign funds.

Inactive or defunct NGOs or those with benami office bearers will also lose their registration under the FCRA. If the field enquiry fails to corroborate the execution of claimed activities or no reasonable activity for the welfare of society has been undertaken by the NGO during the last 2-3 years, the notice said, the permission to collect foreign funds will be revoked.

The notice also cited other reasons like prosecution pending against any office bearer, member, or key functionaries for not responding to clarifications sought, or for not providing requisite information or documents despite being given the opportunity to do so for cancelling the FCRA licence.