New Delhi: The Home Ministry has decided that all non-profits that receive more than Rs 1 crore as government funds and over 10 lakhs as donations from abroad, will have to declare their assets. Almost 3 years after the Lokpal Act was passed, the government, sources said, decided to bring NGOs under its ambit. The NGOs will now be considered public servants, who, under the provisions of the Lokpal Act, are expected to disclose assets and liabilities every year and put out the information in public domain.
So far, the government kept tabs on NGOs, tracking only foreign funds and expenditure. This is the first time the assets of the non-profits will be looked into as well. The move comes months after the government's tussle with activist Teesta Setalvad and the non-profit Ford Foundation over their funding and sources said this was yet another way in which the government is keeping an eye on NGOs that are allegedly engaged in anti-development activities.
Last year, amid a crackdown on foreign charities, the Home Ministry put the $12.5 billion Ford Foundation on watch list. In 2015, the registrations of more than 10,000 NGOs were cancelled. Currently 18 foreign funding agencies and donors are on the watch list.
In June, the Centre said activist Teesta Setalvad's NGO, the Sabrang Trust, which works with Gujarat riot victims, cannot accept foreign funding anymore. The home ministry had suspended its license last year, asking it to explain its foreign funding.
Ms Setalvad - who denied any wrongdoing -- has been accused of receiving around 1.8 crore from the US-based Ford Foundation, allegedly in violation of government rules.
Version : 0.3a | Changelog
Powered by Readability
