Registration of 10,000 NGOs cancelled in last 3 years: Government

NEW DELHI: Registration of more than 10,000 NGOs, including those working in the field of rural development, have been cancelled by the government in the last three years, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said registrations of more than 10,000 NGOs cancelled mainly due to non-filing of annual returns as mandated in the FCRA 2010 and rules made there under.

In addition, he said, renewals of more than 1,300 NGOs have been denied or closed in recent past.

On November 22, 2016, the government had directed more than 11,000 NGOs to file applications for renewal of registration by February 28, 2017 in accordance with the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010.

Of the above, 3,500 NGOs have filed applications for renewal till February 2017. Registration of more than 7,000 NGOs were deemed expired due to non-filing of renewal applications.

Rijiju said there are around 24,000 active NGOs now as against 40,000 in 2014-15.