NGOs will no longer receive any foreign funds, says Home Ministry official

New Delhi: As many as 1,736 NGOs, including Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Mata Amritnandmayi Math and Church of South India Diocese of Madras, will no longer be able to receive foreign funds as they have failed to renew their FCRA registration.

The registration of the 1,736 NGOs under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act expired after these organisations failed to submit required documents for renewal of their licence by November 8.

The NGOs will no longer be able to receive any foreign funds henceforth, a Home Ministry official said.

However, if anyone of them approaches the government with the necessary documents, such application will be considered case-to-case basis, the official said.

Earlier, the Home Ministry had closed the application for FCRA licence renewal in 1,736 cases due to "non-submission of documents or deficient documents or other statutory shortcoming within the stipulated time" of June 30.

The NGOs were given time till November 8 for submission of non-complete applications.

Last fortnight, the government had derecognised more than 11,000 NGOs after they failed to renew their registration by June-end, preventing them from receiving foreign funds.

In addition, the Centre also denied renewal of FCRA registration to 25 NGOs after they were allegedly found to be involved in anti-national activities.

The 25 NGOs' operations in the country are "contrary" to the provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulations Act (FCRA) and allegedly anti-national, an official said.

A total of 16,491 applications were received by the Home Ministry for renewal of FCRA registration and out of which 14,730 were granted renewal.