Government move on FCRA license to affect social work: Oxfam

Ground Report | New Delhi: FCRA license; Charity organization Oxfam has said that its work in India will be "severely affected" once the foreign funding license expires. Oxfam's license has expired from January 1, 2022.

The organization said it would "urge" India's home ministry to lift the ban. The central government has canceled the foreign funding licenses of several NGOs, including Mother Teresa's organization 'The Missionaries of Charity.

The Home Ministry has cited "adverse inputs" as the reason behind the cancellation of the license application of Mother Teresa's institution. However, the reason behind why Oxfam's license has been terminated is not yet clear.

ALOS READ:Dalit Adivasis missing in the Mainstream Media in India

All charities, non-profit organizations in the country are required to register under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) to receive foreign funding. According to the FCRA license of around 6,000 organizations expired on January 1, 2022.

The Hindu quoted the official on the condition of anonymity as saying that applications for new licenses of 179 organizations have been canceled due to alleged violations. While around 5,700 entities did not apply for new licenses before the December 31 deadline.

Licenses under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) of 2010, required to receive foreign financing, of more than 6,003 non-profit organizations (NGOs) have ceased on Saturday, as the Union Ministry of the Interior showed in its updated list.

The board also listed 12,580 organizations that ceased to have their FCRA registration on January 1. But officials indicated that this was a cumulative list and includes organizations that lost their FCRA registration under similar conditions in previous years.

The elimination of 6,003 organizations has reduced the list of organizations registered by the FCRA in the country from 22,832 to 16,829, according to the panel of organizations of the Ministry of the Interior considered "alive or active".

ALSO READ: Global warming: Himalayas are melting at record speed

The list of entities whose FCRA licenses are considered seized includes the Medical Council of India, Oxfam India, Common Cause, Emmanuel Hospital Association and Tuberculosis Association Of India, Asha Kiran Rural Educational Development Society, Chaitanya Rural Development Society, among others.

Hamdard Education Society, Delhi School Of Social Work Society, Jamia Milia Islamia, DAV College Trust, and Management Society, Satajit Ray Film and Television Institute based in Kolkata, India Islamic Cultural Center (IICC), Nuclear Science Center at JNU, India Habitat Center, Lady Shri Ram College for Women is also on the list.

You can connect with Ground Report on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Whatsapp. For suggestions and writeups mail us at [email protected]