NGOs’ foreign aid: 31,000cr in four years

NEW DELHI: Government said in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that more than Rs 31,000 crore has been received as foreign contribution by 65,500 Indian NGOs from 2007 to 2010 even as a demand was raised by members in the Upper House that the Centre should put in place a strong surveillance network to monitor inflow of foreign funds to such organizations , besides creating a database in the interest of national security.

Responding to a question, MoS for home Mullappally Ramachandran said Rs 9,914.19 crore foreign contribution was received by 21,365 NGOs in 2007-08 , Rs 10,987.05 crore by 22,544 NGOs in 2008-09 and Rs 10,340.25 crore by 21,674 NGOs in 2009-10 .

On whether such funds are being misused for opposing the setting up of the Kudankulam nuclear plant, the minister said preliminary reports have suggested alleged misuse of foreign funds for opposing the setting up of the nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu, and probe has been ordered into it. “There are intelligence inputs of some organizations diverting funds for purposes other than the permitted use of foreign funds. These matters are being investigated,” he said. His statement came on the day when a Congress member B S Gnanadesikan raised the issue during Special Mention in the Upper House.

He said, “The government should establish a data base of NGOs to whom foreign contribution is increasing day by day. There are reports that funds are being utilized to fuel unrest in government projects .” Seeking a strong surveillance system he said it was needed “in the interest of national security” as government records show that nearly 22,000 voluntary groups have received Rs 10,000 crore donations from abroad for social service in from 2009 to 2010.

A large number of these “belong to Tamil Nadu which together received Rs 1,663.31 crore as contribution from abroad, from the US, UK, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands,” he added.