Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 1
The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licenses of 14 non-governmental organisations in Nagaland were cancelled between 2019 and 2021, according to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
In addition, from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2021, a total of 2 associations were denied applications for renewal of their FCRA registration certificates, informed the Minister of State MHA Nityanand Rai in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on July 26.
Overall, during the preceding 3 years (2019, 2020, 2021) registration certificates of 1811 number of Associations across India have been cancelled under the provisions of the FCRA, 2010, he said.
The MoS further maintained that “reasonable opportunity of being heard is given in terms of Section 14(2) of FCRA 2010, by issuing Show Cause Notice before a decision about cancellation of registration is taken.”
Further, 783 number of applications for renewals have been denied during preceding same period across India, he added.
As per information available on FCRA website, the 2010 Act was implemented by the Parliament to “consolidate the law to regulate the acceptance and utilization of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality by certain individuals or associations or companies and to prohibit acceptance and utilization of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality for any activities detrimental to national interest and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.”
The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) available on the website also informed that the Central Government may cancel the certificate as per the provisions of section 14 of the FCRA, 2010.
While the MHA’s July 26 reply did not specify the reasons behind cancellation or denial of FCRA registrations, the Ministry informed the Lok Sabha in December 2021 that the FCRA, 2010 provides a legal mechanism to deal with violation of FCRA provisions.
Such mechanism includes audit of accounts of such NGO, inspection of their accounts and records, and verification of their on-field activities and so on, it said.
“The FCRA certificate of such NGOs may be suspended depending upon the facts and circumstances of the case. Such violations may also lead to cancellation of the certificate,” the MHA then stated in another written reply.
FCRA holders in Nagaland
Meanwhile, information accessed on the FCRA Dashboard on August 1 highlighted that there were 262FCRA Associations in Nagaland so far.
However, out of the total, 136 registrations of associations were designated “Cancelled as on Today” while 69 others were “Deemed Ceased or Expired as on Today.”
Accordingly, only 57 FCRA licences were deemed “Active or Alive As on Today.”
Across India, 16738 FCRA associations were designated “Active or Alive As on Today” on August 1.
Most of the Nagaland-based FCRA Registered Associations in the list provided on the FCRA website informed that their activities were mainly religious, cultural, economic, educational and social.
