NGOs got over Rs 50,000 cr from abroad in past three yrs: Rijiju

In last three years, over Rs 50,000 crore were received by the Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), the government said today. 

The acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution by association or institutions is regulated under the provisions of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010. “As on date, 33,091 NGOs are registered under the FCRA and the total funds received from abroad during the last three years and current year is Rs 50,944.54 crore,” Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju told Lok Sabha in a written reply.

The government monitor funds received by the NGOs and also complaints that are received from various sources including security agencies in this regard, he added.

According to reports, In 2014, penalty amounting to about Rs 60 lakh was imposed on 24 associations; Rs 80.11 lakh on 71 associations in 2015 and penalty of Rs 32.78 lakh on eight associations so far this year was imposed for compounding the offence for receipt and utilisation of foreign contribution without holding registration or prior permission under the FCRA.

Notices were issued to around 21,000 associations in 2011 and to 10,343 NGOs in 2014 for not filing annual returns continuously for three years, said Rijiju.

As a result, registration of 4,138 NGOs was cancelled in 2012 and of 10,020 in March 2015 after issue of show cause notices to such associations and giving them adequate opportunity, he added.