Union Government cancels licences of over 2,000 NGOs

Union Government recently has cancelled the licences of over 2000 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) across the country.
The decision to cancel the registration of these NGOs was taken by the Union Home Ministry. The registration was cancelled after these entities failed to submit their annual returns and in view of other anomalies under the provisions of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010.
Prior to cancellation of registration, all these organisations were given proper notice by the Foreigners’ Division of the Home Ministry with adequate time to reply.
It should be noted that Maharashtra tops the list with the cancellation of licences of 964 NGOs followed by Uttar Pradesh with 740 and Karnataka with 614. The licences of 88 NGOs were cancelled in Tamil Nadu.
Earlier licences of nearly 13 thousand NGOs were cancelled in two rounds of crackdown for alleged violation of FCRA, 2010. Thus, with this cancellation, these NGOs now would not be able to receive foreign funds.
As per the mandatory provisions of FCRA, 2010 it is necessary for every registered NGO to submit its returns annually, irrespective if they have or not received foreign funding in that particular year.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2015