Only 11 of 22 NGOs FCRA-registered, no one has filed statement for 2013-14

Note: 364 core spent by foreign NGOs in 5 years, this is the real reason why many local NGOs and activists were so vocal against industries in Lanjigarh for a handsome share, imagine if this amount were spent for development of Dongria Kondh alone?

Indian Express, June 21, 2014
IB report: NGOs got nearly Rs 650 cr from overseas in five years from ‘08-’09 to ‘12-’13, show filings made to MHA

Of the 22 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and donor agencies named in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) report submitted to the government earlier this month, only 11 are registered with the Home Ministry under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), and have been submitting reports of foreign contributions received by them over the years.

However, none of these 11 bodies have so far filed their foreign contributions statements for 2013-14 to the Ministry.
The IB report, submitted to the PMO and National Security Adviser, alleged that several foreign-funded NGOs were stalling India’s economic growth by their obstructionist activism.

Until this week, only 1,205 NGOs — less than 3 per cent of the total 41,759 registered under FCRA — had submitted their statements of foreign contributions received during 2013-14. According to these statements, these 1,205 NGOs received Rs 326.84 crore in foreign donations during the year.

None of these 1,205 NGOs is among the 22 mentioned in the IB report.

A total 17,362 NGOs submitted their foreign contribution declarations for 2012-13 to the MHA. The cumulative funding received by them, as per the declarations, was Rs 10,906.39 crore. 5,795 NGOs — a third of the total of those who filed declarations — showed zero receipts from foreign sources.

Funding details of the 11 FCRA-registered NGOs mentioned in the IB’s list of 22:  

Tuticorin Multipurpose Social Service Society: Was behind the agitation against the Kudankulam nuclear power plant. Received foreign donations of Rs 10.97 crore between 2008-09 and 2012-13, Rs 5.26 crore of which came from Italy, including Rs 1.62 crore from the Terni-based Associazione per un sorriso Monica De Carlo.

Tuticorin Diocesan Association: Also involved in the anti-Kudankulam agitation. Got Rs 19.18 crore in foreign contributions in the five years from 2008-09 to 2012-13, of which Rs 3.17 crore came from Germany, Rs 3.74 crore from Italy, and Rs 4.10 crore from France. Among the biggest donors was Secure Catholique of France, whose donations added up to Rs 3.92 crore.

Gene Campaign: The IB report says Gene Campaign was behind the activism against GM crops in India. It received Rs 5.45 crore foreign funds in the five years, the bulk of which came from Italy, Germany, the UK, Netherlands and Canada. Donors also include Centre For Policy Research and M S Swaminathan Research Foundation.

Navdanya Trust: Led by Vandana Shiva; according to the IB, it is at the forefront of the anti-GM foods activism. In the four years from 2008-09 to 2011-12 Navdanya got Rs 12.78 crore from foreign sources, mainly Canada, Italy, Germany, the US, the UK, Switzerland and Sweden.

Indian Social Action Forum: One of four NGOs registered at the same address in Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi. It got foreign contributions adding up to Rs 6.87 crore between 2008-09 and 2012-13, Rs 5.06 crore of which came from Bread for the World (Germany), in 10 donations.

ActionAid: According to the IB report, ActionAid is active among the ethnic Dongria Kondhs of the Niyamgiri Hills in Orissa’s Raygada and Kalahandi districts. The NGO received Rs 364.47 crore between 2008-09 and 2012-13, Rs 331.91 crore of which came from the UK-based ActionAid International and its country offices.

East Coast Research and Development Trust: Involved in the anti-Kudankulam stir; received Rs 18.35 lakh in foreign donations between 2008-09 and 2011-12, as per its declarations filed to the MHA.
n Gandhian Unit for Integrated Development Education: Also against Kudankulam; received Rs 1.63 crore from 2008-09 to 2012-13.

Maldhari Rural Action Group (MARAG): Opposed to the Gujarat model of development, according to the IB. Got Rs 4.05 crore in foreign contributions between 2009-10 and 2011-12, from agencies in Tibet, Canada, USA, Norway and Italy.

OXFAm: While donating to some of the NGOs mentioned in the IB report, it got Rs 188.82 crore itself between 2008-09 and 2012-13, mostly from its chapters in the UK, Australia, Netherlands, Japan, Spain and Hong Kong.

Greenpeace International: Has got FCRA registration on a Chennai address; received foreign contributions of Rs 32.93 crore between 2008-09 and 2012-13. Rs 30.20 crore came from Greenpeace’s Netherlands, Germany and Belgium chapters; over Rs 29 crore came from the Netherlands alone.