Ford Foundation put under MHA watchlist in 'national interest'

The Ministry of Home Affairs has put one of the biggest international funding organisations, Ford Foundation, under a watchlist in national interest and security.

Ford Foundation put under MHA watchlist in 'national interest'
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Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs has put one of the biggest international funding organisations, Ford Foundation, on its watchlist and ordered that all funds coming from the international organisation have to be routed only with its nod.

The Ministry said it wanted to ensure that funds coming from Ford Foundation is utilised for "bonafide welfare activities without compromising on concerns of national interest and security".

Now, funds coming from Ford Foundation (US) will be required to get clearance under Section 46 of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, which says that all funds coming to the country will have to be approved by the MHA.

Reports also said that in the last few months, millions of dollars of grant from the foundation to NGOs had been blocked.

At the same time, the RBI has been asked by the government to rope in all banks to make sure that the due process is being followed.

"RBI is requested to instruct all the banks and their branches to ensure that any fund flow from the above mentioned agency to any person, NGO, organisation in India may be brought to the notice of the (Home) ministry so that funds are allowed to be credited into the accounts of the recipient only after clearance of of this ministry," the order said, as per PTI.

The move came after Gujarat government asked the Home Ministry to take action against Ford Foundation as it alleged that the US-based organisation was "interfering in the internal affairs" of the country and also "abetting communal disharmony" through an NGO run by social activist Teesta Setalvad.

There have been allegations that the recipient NGOs have not filed mandatory annual reports and balance sheets with the government.

The Home Ministry in its order also said that government organisations can avail of foreign funding from Ford Foundation only with the clearance of the Department of Economic Affairs.

"Any instance of government organisation receiving funds directly from this agency may be withheld and brought to the notice of this Ministry," the order said.

(With PTI inputs)
 

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