This story is from November 16, 2019

Centre bans 90 NGOs in Telangana, 168 in Andhra Pradesh for FCRA norm violation

Ninety non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Telangana and 168 in AP found to be violating foreign funding laws have been banned by the government this year.
Centre bans 90 NGOs in Telangana, 168 in Andhra Pradesh for FCRA norm violation
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HYDERABAD: Ninety non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Telangana and 168 in AP found to be violating foreign funding laws have been banned by the government this year.
Among those whose registration under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, has been cancelled include churches and educational institutions operating in Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Seva Bharati, Hyderabad Archdiocese Educational Society and Satya Harishchandra Foundation (SHF) are among the violators’ list.
The FCRA registration was cancelled mainly due to their failure to submit annual income and expenditure statement on foreign funding.
The Union ministry of home affairs has made filing of annual returns mandatory for foreign contribution under FCRA.
K Rajeshwar of SHF told TOI that they did not submit annual returns for two consecutive years. “Our foundation has not received a single rupee towards foreign donation after we enrolled ourselves under FCRA. We were supposed to file the annual returns, but we forgot to do so,” he agreed. SHF helps in cremating unidentified bodies in the city.
In its order, MHA said: “It has been observed that the mandatory annual returns for 2017-18 have not been uploaded on FCRA portal by some of the NGOs even after the extended date of March 31, 2019. Non-filing of annual returns is a violation of Section 18 of the Act. A final notice was issued on June 22 to the defaulters, giving them an opportunity to file within 15 days. However, they have failed to submit the returns.”
Under section 14 of FCRA, the Centre cancelled the registration of United Grace Ministries, St Paul’s Educational Academy, Shammah Ministries International, Rudrama Devi Mahila Mandali, Dhyana Ashram, Amma Nanna Ananda Ashramam, All India Christian Federation and Banjara Tribal Initiative.
In AP, Rural Education and Development Society, Rayapati Charitable Association, YS Vijayamma Charitable Trust, Philadelphia Zion Ministries and Aruna Mahila Mandali are among those whose registration has been cancelled.
Secretary of Forum for Good Governance M Padmanabha Reddy said that FCRA should be amended to ensure that no religious organisation gets foreign funding. “NGOs should work to get funding from within India,” he told TOI.
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About the Author
U Sudhakar Reddy

Sudhakar Reddy Udumula is the Editor (Investigation) at the Times of India, Hyderabad. Following the trail of migration and drought across the rustic landscape of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Sudhakar reported extensively on government apathy, divisive politics, systemic gender discrimination, agrarian crisis and the will to survive great odds. His curiosity for peeking behind the curtain triumphed over the criminal agenda of many scamsters in the highest political and corporate circles, making way for breaking stories such as Panama Papers Scam, Telgi Stamp Paper Scam, and many others. His versatility in reporting extended to red corridors of left-wing extremism where the lives of security forces and the locals in Maoist-affected areas were key points of investigation. His knack for detail provided crucial evidence of involvement from overseas in terrorist bombings in Hyderabad.

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