India: state harassment of NGOs continues with new probe
Event- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jul 10, 2014
- Event Description
The Internal Security Division (ISD) of the State police will investigate whether non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the State were getting foreign grants and will take suitable action if they are found to have violated Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), Home Minister K J George said on Thursday. Replying to an issue raised by K R Ramesh Kumar (Congress) in the Legislative Assembly, George said the ISD would look into the functioning of all the NGOs registered in the state. It will also probe into their funding and expenditure pattern, he said. Kumar had alleged that since 2006 the NGOs in the State had received Rs 1,069 crore. He said that Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) were the sources for his information. Kumar said that the NGOs used the foreign funds to hamper developmental activities on various pretexts. The members of the NGOs enjoy lavish lifestyle by staying in five star hotels and flying in executive class, he said. Kumar said that one NGO had even sent handwritten maps to Germany on locations of uranium availability and proposals to start nuclear power plants in the state. He did not name the NGO but said such activities could result in a threat to national security. "They organise protests against hydel projects, thermal project and other developmental projects using foreign money and portray themselves as saviours of the nation. Such NGOs should be exposed," he said. The functioning of many NGOs lacks transparency and they have never make their accounts public, he said. K G?Bopaiah (BJP) who said that NGOs were hand in glove with officials, added that several NGOs had mushroomed in his home district of Kodagu in the name of tribal welfare. The NGOs have claimed credit for rehabilitation programme undertaken by government, he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Event Location
Latitude: 28.635308
Longitude: 77.22496
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On 10 July 2014 Home Minister K. J. George announced that the Internal Security Division (ISD) of the police had been instructed to probe all registered NGOs and uncover all violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. The probe will examine the NGOs' "general functioning" as well as expenditure and funding. The announcement is the newest manifestation of the government's crusade against NGOs, coming on the heels of a leaked Intelligence Bureau (IB) report -widely covered in the media- which accuses NGOs of corruption and attempting to hamper economic development.