MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SMT. MANEKA GANDHI)
(a)&(g) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTs (a) TO (g) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 59 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.11.2000
a) The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is presently assisting 2347 NGOs.
b) Yes, Sir.
c) Amounts released to NGOs are as given below:
Year Amount (Rs. in crores)
1997-98 59.62 1998-99 113.58 1999-2000 153.48
d) The working of the NGOs assisted by this Ministry is monitored and evaluated from time to time. These Organisations are inspected by representatives of the State Governments and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and where it is found that the delivery of services is not commencesurate with the funds released by the Ministry, the NGO is warned to improve its working. In case of failure to improve or clear defalcation of funds by NGO, further release of grant-in-aid is suspended and the NGO is blacklisted after following the prescribed procedure and process initiated for recovering the misutilised grant.
e) NGOs are permitted to receive funding from foreign sources only if they are registered under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976. The registration is granted by Ministry of Home Affairs only after satisfying itself about the bonafides of the NGO. The monitoring of foreign contribution is done by Ministry of Home Affairs through the annual reports and returns submitted by the registered Organisations as well as inspection of accounts or records or audit books as deemed necessary.
f) to g) As a result of inspection of the NGOs by representatives of this Ministry, some instances have come to light where the working of the NGO is unsatisfactory or there is misutilisation of funds. In such cases, further grant-in-aid has been suspended and showcause notice issued to the NGOs. In cases where the explanation of the organization is unsatisfactory, the organization is blacklisted and action taken to recover the grants released earlier and seize the assets created out of the Government`s funds with the help of State Governments/district authorities.
