2004 Tsunami triggered a wave of dubious NGOs

The 2004 tsunami resulted in many voluntary organizations from across the globe setting up base in Tamil Nadu. But it also led to a proliferation of fraudulent non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the state. They made use of the enormity of the calamity to swindle funds. Quite a few of them had a religious tinge too. As money poured in from within the country and abroad, they went about buying costly sports utility vehicles and splurging on themselves. Many NGOs, for instance, functioned for months together out of star hotels.

Going by the money received by Tamil Nadu NGOs over the past 10 years in the name of providing relief to tsunami victims, all those who survived the calamity should have been leading luxurious lives by now.But the reality is that the Supreme Court is now forced to look into their activities. The apex court, on Monday , asked Tamil Nadu and Telangana governments to provide details of NGOs functioning in the states.

"Thousands of NGOs mushroomed after the tsunami. All of them claimed they were supporting the victims, but not many helped the fishermen or their families," said an official in the Union home ministry.

Many of these NGOs are familyrun trusts. "The trustees have been taking fat salaries and perks, besides enjoying rides in costly vehicles. When the donor seeks details of aid disbursed, they send a photo and a write-up and there ends the matter," said the official. "During an audit of NGOs, it was found that four different organizations had claimed to have given a boat to a fisherman. All the four attached photos of the same fisherman and the boat along with their accounts as proof," the official said.According to I-T department sources, pilferage of money by NGOs is maximum in family-run trusts.

The biggest problem that confronts the sector is there is no watchdog to monitor NGOs' activities. In March 2012, there was an outcry when FCRA registration of four NGOs was withdrawn and their bank accounts frozen as their members were allegedly involved in anti-nuclear protests.