Relook into the restrictions in the FCRA (amendments ) !
In India , the Foreign Contribution ( Regulation ) Act 1976 or FCRA is a law of government of India which regulates receipt of foreign contributions or aid from outside India to India territories. This is essential to ensure that such aid does not effect political or any other situation in India.. This was amended further in 2010 to put more restriction and control by the Government.
The Central Government has put many kinds of restrictions in the Foreign Contributions (Regulation ) Act making vry difficult to operate in India with the funds / donations recieved from abroad for social service. In 2021 more than 22000 NGOs has registered under the Act but were finding much difficulties in funds utilisation due to the day to day interference in thier operations, online reporting making it difficult otoperate fro low internet reach areas , Banking difficulties as only New Delhi Branch is asked to monitor FCRA Bank accounts from ll over the country and further restrictions put in place by the Funders.
The country is facing an uphill ask in health for all , malnourishment, employment and hunger index. We find the data which reveals that the country in going down the ranking in hunger index as many millions of countrymen are dependent on the feee ration from the PDS ration quota. The welfare works have been adversely affected due to shortage and stoppage of funds to many big and small NGOs who were acting as the buffer to the poor people for their survial. The offices, hospitals , many schools and hostels , training centers and refresmnets center for day care of special persons and the aged are shut down due to these restrictions in FCRA leading to increase in deprivation and rehaboilitation works that were running before the COVID 19 pandemic and restrictions on funds.
It is high time the NGOs sit down with the officials in the Central ZGovernment and ask for removing restrictions in FCRA that are inhibiting the smooth flow of resources from abroad and sustain the welfare activities targeted for the deprived families, a relook is the need of the hour .
#FCRA #NGO
