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Acting on an Intelligence Bureau (<keyword id="6355286" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="IB">IB</keyword>) report that accused non-government organisations (NGOs) of derailing India’s economic growth, the Home Ministry has sent a questionnaire to <keyword id="69355" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Greenpeace">Greenpeace</keyword>, an environment-focused NGO, asking it to explain its foreign funding. The ministry also asked the organisation to provide details about the causes on which it spends the funds. 
 
According to media reports, the licences of all the NGOs named in the IB report will be reviewed under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010. 
Greenpeace had denied charges levelled in the IB report that labelled the NGO as ‘a threat to national economic security.’ 
 
The ministry has asked the NGO to furnish details regarding the sources of its funds, the beneficiaries and on what activities the funds are spent. 
 
Greenpeace was funded by individual donors in the country and does not accept any donation from corporate or government entities. 
 
“In FY2013-14, Greenpeace India raised around Rs 20 crore from more than three lakh individual supporters in India. More than 60% of our funds come from Indian supporters. Foreign grants form 37% of our funds,” Greenpeace said in a statement.

Government Asks Greenpeace To Provide Details On
Foreign Funding

Indian companies with <keyword id="58959" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Foreign-investors">foreign investors</keyword> who carry out Corporate Social Responsibility (<keyword id="6354502" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="CSR">CSR</keyword>) programs are now being scrutinized by the government. The companies reportedly are increasing stinging activities in the grey areas among their CSR contributors. 
 Companies with more than 50% foreign shareholders make donations to NGOs that have obtained Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) clearance. Organizations like <keyword id="6354512" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Infosys">Infosys</keyword>, HDFC, ICICI and Hindustan Liver have started their own foundations under the CSR project. 
 
As per a report published in ET, many companies like ICICI await clarifications from the government in this grey area. In March 2015, ICICI’s foreign shareholding was 41.23% and in the past, it crossed the foreign shareholding cap under FCRA of 50%. The bank, which spends over 2% of its profit in CSR in skills development, livelihood, health, and elementary education, does not give grants to NGOs but to its Foundation, which in turn partners with NGOs. 
 "<keyword id="6653" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICICI-bank">ICICI Bank</keyword> doesn't invest in <keyword id="339601" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICICI-Foundation">ICICI Foundation</keyword> — it is a donation and contribution for social causes. In that perspective, we made a representation two to three years ago to the ministry of corporate affairs about not putting us under the purview of FCRA, but there has been no response," says Chinmay Sengupta, COO, ICICI Bank Foundation.

CSR input of Indian companies with foreign shareholders to get distressed

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is getting more vigilant over foreign funding to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and has asked the home ministry to tighten rules of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). 
 
Acting on the instructions, the home ministry will scrutinise foreign-funded NGOs based on recommendations of Intelligence Bureau. 
 
The home ministry expedited its review of FCRA rules after the PM's Principal Secretary Nripendra Misra wrote to Home Secretary LC Goyal asking him to put a mechanism in place "without any delay" to monitor foreign funding of NGOs. 
 
The PMO wants to put in place new measures by June 15 in the interest of India's "economic security", officials told Economic Times, explaining the urgency of the matter. The FCR rules were brought in by the Congress-led Indian government after FCRA was enacted in 2010. 
 
Under the proposed changes, NGOs may have to provide details of all foreign funding within two days to ensure transparency. 
 
"NGOs would be mandated to have a website on which they will be required to put out the details of each foreign inflow for public viewing within 48 hours of receiving the funds. This will include the source of funds, the intended activity for which the funds are expected to be used and the details of its partner NGOs in that specific project," a senior government official told ET. Annual audited reports for previous years should also be made public, the official said. 
 
The official added that the 'oversight' part of the new measures would allow the government to keep close tabs on NGOs through stricter checks and inspections. 
 
A senior ministry official told ET that the PMO communication to home ministry had stressed the "need for effective linkage between MHA, Reserve Bank of India and banks for effective monitoring" of NGOs. 
 The move comes amid criticism faced by PM Narendra Modi over his clamp down on foreign-funded NGOs. The US-based <keyword id="57946" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ford-Foundation">Ford Foundation</keyword>, one of the biggest non-profit organisations across the world, was put on a watch list by home ministry. 
 
(Image: PIB)

Modi government to keep an eagle eye on foreign-funded NGOs

To clear the pending requests from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) seeking registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=union+home+ministry&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Union home ministry</a> launched a special drive, with the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=FCRA&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">FCRA</a> division setting itself a one-month deadline to decide on the fate of 1,500 applications. 
 According to the sources in the <keyword id="6359327" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Home-Ministry">home ministry</keyword>, the <keyword id="3633661" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="FCRA-license-requests">FCRA license requests</keyword> were submitted through the manual route, date back to 2014 and 2015, before <keyword id="307144" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="FCRA">FCRA</keyword> clearances were made fully online. "The NGOs had been approaching the home ministry time and again enquiring about the status of their applications," said a home ministry officer. 
 
"Sometime around mid-August, the additional secretary of the foreigners division, which handles all FCRA dealings, asked his subordinates to ensure that the backlog of manual applications for fresh registration was cleared without further delay. They were asked to decide whether to grant or deny registration, and communicate the decision to the concerned NGOs," the officer added. 
 
Sources told that many requests had been deemed fit for rejection, and the focus is on not making the concerned applicants wait any longer for the final decision. 
 
An officer told <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=ET&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">ET</a>, "There is no point in keeping them hanging. Where the decision is a 'no', the officers have been asked to immediately convey it to the applicant NGO," 
 
The recent suspension of four officers of the foreigners division - including a joint secretary, two under-secretaries and a section officer, the staff is pushing hard to meet the deadline, though it expires in just over a week. 
 
A call for applications from retired assistant section officers for engagement as consultants has already been advertised by the home ministry on Tuesday to counter the manpower shortage. 
 
Because of the renewal of FCRA license of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=zakir+naik&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Zakir </a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=zakir+naik&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Naik</a>'s NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) through the automatic route, four officers of the foreigners division, including joint secretary G K Dwivedi, were suspended last week. 
 
The online renewal came even as proceedings were under way to put IRF on the 'prior permission' list, which requires all foreign funding to the NGO to be approved by the home ministry. Also, the Union home ministry is mulling declaring IRF an 'unlawful organization' for allegedly spreading communal hatred and carrying out forced conversions. 
 
(Image Credits: BCCL)

Home Ministry sets one month deadline to decide on the fate of 1500 NGO registrations

The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Central+Bureau+of+Investigation+%28CBI%29+">Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)</a> is likely to probe the case of alleged violation of various sections of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) by the Indian arm of global NGO <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Greenpeace">Greenpeace</a>. The <keyword id="6359327" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Home-Ministry">Home Ministry</keyword> has approached CBI to set an inquiry against the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=NGO">NGO</a>. 
 
There may be divergent views within the ministry on the nature of probe to be ordered as even financial investigative agencies can carry out such probes. 
 However, it is reportedly said that the CBI probe is being justified on the ground that there is a need to investigate the proceeds of bank accounts used by <keyword id="6356502" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Greenpeace-India">Greenpeace India</keyword>. There is also a need to probe about the circulation of money across various accounts and then allegedly parking them in fixed deposits. 
 
The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Home+Ministry+">Home Ministry</a> on September 2 had cancelled Greenpeace's FCRA registration citing alleged violations. "We have taken steps against Greenpeace India for FCRA violations, but during inspections we also came across other loopholes, which can be probed further only by a competent investigative agency. Also, there is an alternate opinion that the NGO could be given another chance and asked to rectify them," said an official familiar with the matter. 
 
Moreover, in its licence cancellation order, the ministry recorded that a Greenpeace representative was called personally "to explain the details of entries and transaction pertaining to source of FDRs (fixed deposit receipts) on August 19. However, instead of clarifying, the representative preferred to reply that they have already answered the queries at different forum". 
 
On Wednesday, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Madras+High+Court+">Madras High Court</a> granted an interim stay for eight weeks on the cancellation of the NGO's registration under FCRA. "We are confident that we have a strong legal case to demonstrate that the MHA is acting without any justification," said Vinuta Gopal, co-executive director of Greenpeace India. 
 
The home ministry said it will study the order and appeal against the same. 
 
If a CBI inquiry is instituted against Greenpeace, it will be the second such case of alleged FCRA violation entrusted to the probe agency. 
 Earlier, the Home Ministry had ordered an inquiry into the affairs of Gujarat-based activist <keyword id="124413" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Teesta-Setalvad">Teesta Setalvad</keyword>'s NGO Sabrang Communications. CBI later registered an FIR against Setalvad and her husband and carried out raids. 
 
 Greenpeace India has been charged with transfer of funds from its designated FCRA accounts to other accounts and underreporting of receipts of overseas funding. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Greenpeace is getting into further trouble! An investigation by the CBI can’t be easy

NEW DELHI: Billionaire <keyword id="45830" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bill-Gates">Bill Gates</keyword> on Thursday called on the BJP government to take unpopular steps to accelerate growth, while pushing for an increase in the country’s healthcare spend. 
 “For the overall economy to grow, India needs to do unpopular things — do things that are good for the country. What good is a mandate if you can’t do unpopular things,” said the founder of <keyword id="10387" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Microsoft">Microsoft</keyword> and the Bill and <keyword id="142497" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Melinda-Gates-Foundation">Melinda Gates Foundation</keyword>, who is in India this week. 
 
On healthcare spending, Gates said, “A few things are still unclear…when push comes to shove, health budgets will need to go up. It will be interesting to see if that goes up.” 
 His wife and co-founder of the eponymous Foundation, <keyword id="131379" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Melinda-Gates">Melinda Gates</keyword>, said, “We are enthused with the <keyword id="6360789" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Modi-Government">Modi government</keyword>. They will roll out four new key vaccines across India and that is huge. Nearly 1.4 million children die every year and this rollout will help a lot to bring down disease and improve health.” 
 In an indirect reference to the government’s <keyword id="6392137" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Jan-dhan-Yojana">Jan Dhan Yojana</keyword> scheme, which aims at financial inclusion, Bill Gates said, “It’s good that more people have bank accounts, but quality of those accounts also needs to improve.” 
 The Foundation was created in 2001 and started work in India in 2003. It is the world’s largest foundation with an endowment of around $40 billion. Since it started work in India, the foundation has spent $1 billion on projects including HIV/AIDS prevention, polio eradication, tuberculosis, educating couples on family planning and sanitation. The power couple was in conversation with author <keyword id="6390428" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Chetan-Bhagat">Chetan Bhagat</keyword>. 
 When asked about the <keyword id="44734" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Indian-Government">Indian government</keyword> targeting NGOs, Gates said, “It does not hurt us, but the FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) approval process is long.” 
 
On being asked what made Gates opt for philanthropy and not start another company after Microsoft, Gates said: “In terms of a new path, Microsoft had a huge impact. Philanthropy also has a huge impact, but in a different dimension. We saw that a lot of the diseases were neglected by governments. And lot of the rich world didn’t have those diseases. Here we saw very unique opportunity to intervene.” 
 
Gates said the generation that begins a business doesn’t believe in dynasty, but once fortune is passed down in a dynastic manner, it’s hard to stop.” That’s like thinking the best way to get Olympic teams is to get grandchildren of winners sixty years ago to play — it doesn’t work that way. Fortunately, the trend now is in favour of philanthropy,” he said.

Take Unpopular Measures To Accelerate Growth: Bill Gates To BJP Government

<ul><li>Serum Institute is likely to conduct the Phase III trials on 1,500 volunteers across 14 locations.</li><li>On September 10, the Serum Institute of India had to pause the Phase II/Phase III human trials of Oxford’s <keyword id="8624004" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccine</keyword> candidate across all 17 locations as a precaution, following a show-cause notice.</li><li>However, the Drugs Controller General of India, on September 15, asked the SII to resume human trials. </li><li>Once successfully tested, the vaccine will be launched under the brand name “Covishield” once the trials are successfully completed at all the sites. </li></ul>Serum Institute of India (SII) is likely to begin the <keyword id="9978218" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Phase-III-human-trials">phase III human trials</keyword> of Oxford’s coronavirus vaccine at Sassoon General Hospital in Maharashtra on September 22, Hindustan Times <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/phase-3-human-clinical-trial-of-oxford-vaccine-begins-in-pune/story-mpfvHoWiH4lh3I452On7UP.html">reported. </a> “We have started the phase-III trials of the vaccine (candidate <keyword id="9617748" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="covishield">Covishield</keyword>). We will administer dose to 150 to 200 volunteers,” said Dr Muralidhar Tambe, Dean, Sassoon General Hospital. Serum Institute is likely to conduct the Phase III trials on 1,500 volunteers across 14 locations. On September 10, the Serum Institute of India had to pause the Phase II/Phase III human trials of Oxford’s coronavirus vaccine candidate across all 17 locations as a precaution, following a show-cause notice<a href="https://www.businesstoday.in/coronavirus/breaking-covid-19-trials-paused-till-further-instructions-says-serum-institute/story/415686.html">, reported Business Today.</a> SII <a href="https://twitter.com/CNBCTV18Live/status/1303981172200882176">sai</a>d there have been no issues in India, and this is a precautionary measure, and it will restart the trial as soon as AstraZeneca does. AstraZeneca has resumed trials in the UK but not yet in the US. Drugs Controller General of India, on September 15, asked the SII to resume human trials. Once successfully tested, the vaccine will be launched under the brand name “Covishield” once the trials are successfully completed at all the sites. SII has signed two agreements for the supply of Covid-19 vaccines, the first being AstraZeneca-Oxford's candidate, for which the company has agreed to produce up to 1 billion doses for low and middle-income countries. SII is the partner of the University of Oxford's Jenner Institute to conduct vaccine trials. Earlier, the DGCI had granted permission to SII for the second and third phase study of the vaccine at 17 trial sites across India. The Serum Institute of India would introduce candidate vaccines from AstraZeneca and Novavax for COVID-19 at less than ₹250 per dose in India. The Pune-based institute <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/serum-institute-ties-up-with-bill-gates-foundation-gavi-to-speed-up-covid-19-vaccine-manufacture-process/story-h20YRO9mdooYA8ysqenE9L.html">partnered with </a>Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation to offer up to 100 million doses, with the price capped at $3 for 92 low and middle-income countries (LMIC), including India. There are at least 30 COVID vaccine candidates in preclinical or clinical stages in India. While three of them are in the advanced stage of Phase I/II/III trials and 4 are in the advanced preclinical development stage, Union Health Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan, told the Parliament. Vardhan believes India <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covid-vaccine-likely-by-early-2021-for-old-high-risk-first-harsh-vardhan/articleshow/78090587.cms">may</a> get a coronavirus vaccine by early 2021. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/lok-sabha-passes-amendments-to-foreign-contribution-regulation-act-makes-aadhaar-mandatory-for-foreign-contribution-towards-ngos/articleshow/78246944.cms">Lok Sabha passes amendments to Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act — makes Aadhaar mandatory for foreign contribution towards NGOs</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/bhiwandi-building-collapse-death-toll-rises-to-17-including-eight-children/articleshow/78247063.cms">Bhiwandi building collapse: Death toll rises to 17, including eight children</a>

Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine: Phase III human trials begin in India

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> is struggling to bring its rampant COVID-19 outbreak under control. </li><li>Around the world people and companies have donated oxygen and PPE, and millions of dollars.</li><li>But a law is stopping charities from distributing aid to smaller groups, making it hard to reach those in need.</li></ul>Donations to help India fight <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fauci-urged-india-to-impose-covid-lockdown-modi-refused-2021-5">its raging COVID-19 outbreak</a> are flooding in from around the world, but a new law is preventing many nonprofits from using the money effectively.Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government <a href="https://www.cof.org/news/new-indian-fcra-amendments-impact-foreign-grants-indian-ngos#:~:text=A%20new%20law%20that%20was,U.S.%2Dbased%20foundations%20and%20corporations.">passed an amendment to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act</a> last September. The amendment effectively prevents local NGOs from redistributing donations to smaller aid groups.India is currently in crisis, with authorities reporting <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-first-country-to-record-400000-single-day-coronavirus-cases-2021-5">record-breaking daily new cases</a>, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-hospitals-report-dire-oxygen-shortages-coronavirus-battle-2021-4">shortages of oxygen tanks</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/video-indias-covid-19-surge-die-stretchers-hospitals-2021-4">hospital beds</a>.People around the world have raised millions for India, but in many cases, that money is being held up and not reaching those in need, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/12/business/india-covid-donations.html">according to The New York Times</a> and <a href="https://www.devex.com/news/foreign-aid-regulations-donor-fatigue-stymie-india-covid-19-response-99778">Devex</a>, an international-development news site.It is not clear where the aid goes instead.According to The Times, the Indian government has instead encouraged international donors to send aid to official charities, including one controlled by Modi and government leaders. The government has not given clarity on how the aid is being used, The Times reported.<div type="image" title="2021 05 01T033417Z_1_LYNXMPEH401GR_RTROPTP_4_HEALTH CORONAVIRUS INDIA.JPG" height="1643" width="3287" msid="82602762" hostid="261"></div>As it is, all nonprofits in India require a license to accept international donations, with the process of getting one fraught with red tape and subject to long delays.India-based nonprofits also need to open bank accounts with the state-owned State Bank of India to be eligible to receive funds from abroad.In one example cited by Devex, a small charity named the Hemkunt Foundation is working to transport oxygen supplies to cities across India, yet it is unable to access funds donated from abroad as it doesn't have the correct license.<h2>'Everybody is being stymied'</h2>Experts and charities have said that the limits on distributing aid were preventing them from using it effectively. The Times reported that the September amendment was passed with little warning. "Hundreds of international donors, businesses, and people from the diaspora are running around in circles and trying to help," Ingrid Srinath, director of the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy at Ashoka University in Sonipat, India, told Devex."Everybody is being stymied.""This is slowing down the speed and agility of the response. A bigger organization such as Oxfam could help smaller NGOs on the ground but they can't," she said.Last year Voluntary Action Network India described the aid as "a death blow to development relief," according to <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/parliament-monsoon-session-fcra-bill-will-be-a-death-blow-to-relief-community-support-work-of-ngos-6605341/">The Indian Express</a>.A group of 13 nonprofits recently wrote a letter to the Indian and US governments highlighting that the law had "paralyzed" the charity sector and would "divert scarce time, bandwidth and human resources" away from helping people, The Times reported."The organizations best placed to respond to community needs at the grass roots in a timely, agile manner are unable to access these donors," the letter said, per The Times.Nonprofits in India are actively seeking a waiver to the country's rules on accepting foreign donations, and government officials are considering the proposal, <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/amended-fcra-norms-likely-to-be-withheld-following-pandemic/articleshow/82303544.cms">according to The Economic Times.</a>"Everyone was caught off guard, especially given the role that NGOs played in COVID relief last year," Nishant Pandey, chief executive of the American India Foundation, told The New York Times."To come with an amendment like that in the middle of pandemic was problematic."

A recently-imposed law in India is preventing local charities from accessing foreign donations, as the country keeps struggling with COVID-19

The government’s recent move to cancel the registration of nearly 9,000 non-governmental organisations (<keyword id="6397455" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="NGOs">NGOs</keyword>) for failing to provide details of foreign funding for three years starting from financial year 2009-10 clearly shows that it has intensified its ongoing major crackdown on non-profit organisation operating in the country. The move came soon after the government suspended the licence of Greenpeace India and put US-based Ford Foundation on a security watch list, necessitating government approval to carry out their activities in the country. 
 
A few months ago, the home ministry said lobby groups such as Greenpeace were damaging the country's economy by campaigning against genetically modified food, mining and power projects. 
 
The Ford Foundation was put on a watch list following accusation that it was providing funding to a local group run by an activist who is a Modi critic. This has given some fodder to Modi’s critics to argue that the government's move to restrict the movement of foreign funding to local charities is an attempt to scuttle the voices of those, who oppose the government’s economic agenda. 
 
The sudden spurt in the number of circulars issued by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) against organisations registered under The Foreign Contributions Regulation Act, 2010 (FCRA) in the recent past has proved that the ministry has intensified its scrutiny of NGOs. 
 
In December, an RBI circular listed NGOs such as Danish International Development Agency, US-based Mercy Corps, US, Netherlands-based Hivos International and US-based Climate Work Foundation and Greenpeace in a list of those whose funds should be monitored by banks. Any NGO receiving funds from them will now need prior permission of the MHA before they bring in the funds. Also, from April 1, all organisations registered under the FCRA have to reapply for licence within a year. 
 
The previous Manmohan Singh government too issued notices to NGOs that hadn’t filed their returns during 2006-2009. But critics say the crackdown has become more pronounced under the Modi government because it wants to stifle voices against its economic and growth agenda. 
 
The government’s supporters say this increased scrutiny is to safeguard national security. The significant spurt in cross-border terrorist activities over the last couple of decades, which reared its ugly head following a series of terror strikes including 9/11 attacks in the US and 26/11 carnage in Mumbai, has forced the government to track every penny that is flown to the country by NGOs and think-tanks to ensure that the money is not used to fund terrorist or secessionist activities. 
 
The government suspect that most of these organisations misuse funds by indulging in money laundering and campaigning against development work. 
The strain in the relationship between bureaucracy and the civil society in the country that is increasingly being based on mutual suspicion and hostility is also cited as a reason for the crackdown on NGOs, which activist groups accuse as an attempt to silence free speech, opposing views and dissent. 
 
Both Indian and foreign donors are shying away from engaging with NGOs which work in governance, environment and human rights as the government is seen increasingly hostile to and suspicious about activities in the space supported by donor money. 
 
The government’s ‘blacklisted’ of foreign donors amply indicates that those working on environment issues and climate change, and those organisations which have an alternative vision and definition of growth elicit government ire more than others. 
 
The fall in fund flow to the NGOs in the country in the recent past is also seen as a fallout of the deterioration in mobilising funds for charity and development aid because of the global economic recession as well as the projection of India as an ‘emerging economic power’. 
 
Following the intensified government scrutiny, donor entities are likely to go slow on their funding plans till the political opposition to the government’s approach against charities becomes more visible and vocal in the public domain. 
 
This may also lead to a situation where funding for NGO activities will become more decentralised—smaller donations from a large section of the civil society supporting social entities that genuinely pursue larger common good instead of a few big funders controlling fund flow. 
While the government cannot be criticised for putting national security on the top of its agenda, whether voices of dissent should be stifled in a mammoth democracy like ours needs to be debated. 
 
Image: www.grist.org

You Searched For "Foreign Contribution Regulation Act" and got 9 results

Government Asks Greenpeace To Provide Details On Foreign Funding

BI India Bureau

CSR input of Indian companies with foreign shareholders to get distressed

BI India Bureau

Modi government to keep an eagle eye on foreign-funded NGOs

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Home Ministry sets one month deadline to decide on the fate of 1500 NGO registrations

BI India Bureau

Greenpeace is getting into further trouble! An investigation by the CBI can’t be easy

BI India Bureau

Take Unpopular Measures To Accelerate Growth: Bill Gates To BJP Government

Economic Times

Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine: Phase III human trials begin in India

BI India Bureau

A recently-imposed law in India is preventing local charities from accessing foreign donations, as the country keeps struggling with COVID-19

Bill Bostock

The crackdown: Is the government really at war with NGOs?

Preetam Kaushik

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