Get MHA nod for fund transfer from Greenpeace International, nine others: RBI

MUMBAI: Concerned over violation of norms by banks, the RBI today asked them not to transfer overseas funds without government's permission from 10 specified donor agencies, including Greenpeace International.

"A couple of instances of some banks crediting fund flow from one of the foreign donor agencies...without obtaining prior permission of the Ministry ( MHA), have been noticed, which is a matter of serious concern," the RBI said in a communication to co-operative banks.

The RBI asked them "to ensure meticulous compliance to the directions issued by the Government".

As per the rules of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), a list of 10 donor agencies have been put under "prior permission category" before fund can be transfered from them to individuals, NGO or organisations in India.

Government asks RBI to instruct all banks to ensure that any fund flow from the donor agencies should be brought to the notice of the MHA so that funds are allowed to be credited to the accounts of the recipient only after clearance.

The donor agencies place under the "prior permission category" are: Danish International Development Agency ( DANIDA); Danish Institute of Human Rights (DIHR); Catholic Organization for Relied and Development Aid (CORDAID); Dan Church Aid ( DCA); and Mercy Corps, USA.

The other five are Inter Church Peace Council Pax Christi (IKV- PC), Netherlands; HIVOS, Netherlands; ICCO Stretegische Samenwerking (ICCO), Netherlands; Green Peace International; and Climate Work Foundation (CWF), US.

Government organisations can avail of foreign funding only with the clearance of Department of Economic Affairs. Any instance of Government organisation receiving funds directly from such donor agencies could be withheld and brought to the notice of MHA.