NEW DELHI: The Home Office on Tuesday he warned NGO of criminal action if they have been receiving and/or using foreign contributions after his FCRA certificate has been canceled or its validity has expired.
In a notification, the ministry said all NGOs receiving foreign funds must be compulsorily registered or given prior permission under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act, 2010 (FCRA) and must use such funds only for the purposes for which they were intended. received.
Additionally, NGOs that are granted FCRA record certificate must be renewed within six months prior to the expiration of the validity of said certificate. If they do not apply for renewal and their registration ceases to exist, they cannot receive or use foreign contributions, the ministry further noted.
“However, this ministry has been informed of cases where a FC (Foreign Contribution) credit or debit has been reported in the accounts of NGOs/associations that have not been granted registration/prior permission/renewal under FCRA 2010 or similar. NGOs/associations whose registration has ceased upon expiry of validity period or whose registration has been cancelled,” the notification said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said that any receipt or utilization of FC without valid registration is a violation of the provisions of FCRA 2010.
“Consequently, any transaction in FCRA accounts/FCRA utilization accounts of the NGO/association whose FCRA registration has been canceled or ceased or its validity has expired would amount to violation of FCRA 2010 and is subject to criminal action,” the Home Office.