Govt. Of India Proposes Amendments In FCRA

18 June, New Delhi

Union Home Ministry has proposed amendments in Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules (FCRA) to improve the existing system of registration and renewal of Non Governmental Organisations, NGOs, under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.

The draft amendments are available on the Ministry’s website www.mha.nic.in. Comments on the proposed amendments can be sent to the Home Ministry before 1st of next month.

There are around 30 thousand NGOs in the country. Government’s move came in the wake of complaint that NGOs are violating the rules of the registration.

Under the proposed rules, NGOs will have to pledge that the money will not be used for activities that go against national, public, security, scientific and economic interests of India.

Under the rules, banks are required to inform the Home Ministry about deposit or withdrawal from FCRA linked account of NGO within 48 hours. The application for registration will be made online along with scanned documents required by the government.

The person shall have to place the audited statements of accounts on receipts and utilizations of foreign contribution and balance sheet for every financial year on the website.

He or she will also have to place details of foreign contribution on its official website or on the website of the government within seven days of the receipt. Under the proposed rules, the NGOs are also required to declare if their office bearers are associated with other NGO.