Question : Funds to NGOs

(a) the total number of Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) registered under the Foreign Contributions Regulations Act (FCRA) along with the total funds received from abroad during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government has received complaints with regard to misutilisation of foreign funds by NGOs and utilisation of funds for anti-national activities;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the action taken against them including licences cancelled during the said period, NGO and State-wise;

(d) whether the Government has received any complaints with regard to involvement of NGOs in making the black money into white and if so, the details thereof and the action taken against these NGOs;

(e) whether there are reports that large number of NGOs have not filed annual returns and if so, the details thereof and the total number of NGOs which have not filed annual return along with the action taken against them during the said period, NGO and State-wise;

(f) whether the Government has any proposal to make amendment in the FCRA rules and to simplify the rules to receive foreign funds and if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the steps taken by the Government to monitor the activities/functioning and utilization of funds by these organizations, streamline the audit and registration of all NGOs receiving foreign funds?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) As on 1.12.2015, 33,458 associations are registered under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA, 2010). Based on the annual returns filed and the information available, the state-wise details of foreign contribution received by associations registered/ prior permission during the last three financial years is at Annexure-I. For the current financial year, the annual returns containing details of receipt of foreign contribution are required to be filed by the registered associations during 1.4.2016 to 31.12.2016.

(b) to (e) Complaints/ inputs of alleged misutilisation/ misappropriation of foreign contribution are routinely received from general public as well as security agencies. After inspection and scrutiny of accounts, 17 cases have been referred to CBI and 10 to State Police for further action. Accounts of 23 associations have been frozen, 20 associations have been prohibited from receiving foreign contribution and Registration of one association has been cancelled. Notices were issued to 10,343 associations in 2014 for not filing annual returns continuously for three years. Consequently, registration of 10,117 associations was cancelled in March 2015 after issue of Show Cause Notices to such associations and giving them adequate opportunity. The State-wise details are at Annexure-II.

(f) Yes Madam. In order to make the receipt and utilization of foreign contribution by associations transparent, all FCRA services online and also to make the existing FCRA forms simpler, it is proposed to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011.

(g) The Government monitors the receipt and utilizations of foreign contribution received by associations as per the provisions contained in FCRA, 2010. As and when complaints/ inputs are received against an association about alleged misutilisation/ misappropriation or receipt of foreign contribution without prior permission/ registration under the Act, their accounts are scrutinized/ audited. In case of misutilisation of funds, the cases are referred to CBI or State Police. In other cases, the offence is compounded by levying of penalty. The registration process shall further be streamlined after the proposed amendment in Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011.
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