Once in 5 years, NGOs must declare members haven’t violated FCRA norms

New Delhi: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will be required to file an affidavit once in five years, at the time of renewal of licence under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, declaring that all their members, office-bearers and key functionaries have not violated 20 conditions, including involvement in religious conversion or prosecution in a communal riots case, said a Union home ministry official.

The move, the official told ET on condition of anonymity, is aimed at “reducing close monitoring of NGOs by the government”.

On Monday, the home ministry introduced the second amendment to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011, which requires execution of affidavit by each office-bearer and key functionary and member individually on a nonjudicial stamp paper of Rs 10 and attestation by notary public.

Under the previous rules, only the key functionary and top office-bearers were required to give an affidavit for seeking registration, renewal or prior permission for receiving foreign grants under section 12 (4) of FCR Act, 2010.

“Only change that has been made is that now not only the chief functionary but all the members, office bearers and key functionary of the applicant NGOs have to give an affidavit,” said the ministry. “If any violation of these provisions by the applicant organization or any of its members, key functionaries or office bearers comes to his/her knowledge then he/she would report it to the central government.”

The official cited earlier said: “This amendment (affidavit) will ensure that NGOs abide by the provision of the FCRA, 2010 through a self-awareness mechanism where members of the NGOs themselves are fully sensitised about the legal provision and their compliance by their NGOs.”