Between 2017–18 and 2021–22, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) all around the nation received foreign contributions totaling Rs 88,882 crore.
At this time, there was a crackdown on NGOs that were allegedly breaking the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act’s rules, and the Act itself was strengthened, TOI reported.
In response to two separate questions in the Rajya Sabha , the home ministry revealed that despite the cancellation of 1,827 NGOs’ registration under the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Act between 2018 and 2022, foreign funding of NGOs nationwide has steadily increased to Rs 22,085 crore in 2021–22 from Rs 17,059 crore in 2020–21 and Rs 16,306 crore in 2019–20.
The total foreign donations received by NGOs and associations in India in 2018–19 totalled Rs 16,491 crore, which was just slightly less than the inflow of Rs 16,941 crore in 2017–18, according to information provided by the home ministry in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha on March 24, 2021.
In addition, MoS Nityanand Rai informed the Rajya Sabha in December 2022 that 6,677 NGOs had their FCRA licences revoked between 2017 and 2021. Yet, during the five years between 2017–18 and 2021–22, when actions taken against numerous NGOs for alleged FCRA violations and tightening of FCRA regulations had prompted concerns about the Narendra Modi government targeting NGOs, NGOs in India received a total of Rs 88,882 crore in foreign financing.
In addition, Rai stated that the FCRA registration certificates for 16,383 NGOs and organisations were still valid as of 10/03/2023, in response to a query in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Among them, 14,966 associations have already submitted the FCRA’s FY 2021–22 annual returns that are required.
Several complaints regarding the improper use or diversion of foreign contributions by FCRA registered Associations have been made in the past. Such complaints are handled in accordance with the (FCRA) Act’s norms and regulations, Rai said.
Rai stated that the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), which was transferred from the “prior permission” list to the list of associations duly registered under the FCRA, and the Missionaries of Charity, Kolkata, affiliated with Mother Teresa, had both received orders of “deemed suspension” from the home ministry in November 2021.
The NGOs based in Delhi had the largest foreign funding receipts when broken down by state during the three fiscal years 2019–20, 2020–21, and 2021–22. Karnataka overtook Tamil Nadu, which had the greatest foreign receipts in 2019–20 and 2020–21, to become the second-largest recipient in 2021–22. While Gujarat regularly ranked seventh in 2019–2020 and 2020–21, Gujarat’s registered NGOs received the fifth-highest donations in 2021–22, while Maharashtra constantly held onto the fourth spot.
