SC To hear plea for foreign funding clearence to NGO today
A petition against the centre’s refusal to renew licences needed to receive funding from abroad for thousands of non-profits that could impair their vital humanitarian, advocacy and other operations in India will be heard by the Supreme Court on Monday.
The plea filed by US-based non-governmental organisation or NGO Global Peace Initiative has said the cancellation of licences can have a debilitating effect on COVID-19 relief efforts as the country is battling its third wave of infections and the work done by many of these 6,000 NGOs has helped millions of Indians so far.
The plea has sought an extension of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act or FCRA Licenses of these NGOs till at least COVID-19 remains a “national disaster” designated by the central government.
“The sudden and arbitrary cancellation of FCRA registration of thousands of these NGOs violates the rights of the organisations, their workers as well as the millions of Indians who they serve,” the petition said.
“This is especially relevant at a time when the country is facing the third wave of the COVID-19 virus… The cancellation of the licenses of close to 6000 NGOs at this time will hamper relief efforts and lead to denial of aid to citizens in need,” it said.