New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday issued a notice to Ministry of Home Affairs on allegations of draconian approach over renewal of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) license to NGOs of Human Rights Defenders.
Earlier this month, Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar urged the Centre to impose stricter guidelines under the FCRA to keep a tab on funds received from Islamic countries. Subsequently the ministry denied 25 NGOs permission under the FCRA, which regulates foreign funding for NGOs. It claimed that their activities were not in the “national interest”.
In October, the Home Ministry denied a request from the Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), a network of NGOs and people’s movements, for renewal of its FCRA license without providing any reasons.
Amnesty International India and Human Rights Watch said Indian government’s refusal to renew foreign funding licenses of these NGOs without valid reasons violates their rights to freedom of expression.
November 18, 2016 at 10:23 am
The draconian measure on curbing activities of NGOs is not only a violation of freedom of expression but also restriction on carrying out public services in upliftment if poor and downtrodden. NGOs have done yeomen service in the field of social work in rural areas. By stopping funds, their work us being obstructed which is in violation of basic tenets of Constitution.