Centre cracks whip on NGOs

NGOs receiving funds by giving misleading data to be blacklisted

Any NGO receiving government funds through false and misleading information will be blacklisted, according to the draft guidelines framed, the Centre informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta submitted before a Bench of Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud the draft guidelines for NGOs and said it will be finalised in two weeks. The bench asked the government to consult amicus curiae Rakesh Diwedi and frame the guidelines in the PIL filed by advocate M.L. Sharma for regulation of over 30 lakh NGOs.

In the guidelines, the Centre has proposed stringent guidelines for NGOs requiring them to register afresh online with Niti Aayog. The NGOs will be provided a unique ID and subjected to the Income Tax Act and Foreign Contribution Regulations Act.

The NGOs must give details of the audited account, I-T returns, area of operation and names of key personnel, the guidelines also state.

The NGOs will only be granted accreditation after evaluating their internal governance and ethical standards. The past record of the NGOs too will be put under scrutiny before accreditation.

The accredited NGOs will be subject to threetier scrutiny to evaluate the funds utilised. The scrutiny would be also include the quality of work, the guidelines also state.

The NGOs and VOs getting government funds are required to execute a bond to refund the amount with 10% interest if work not done. Misappropriation of funds would warrant registration of criminal case against NGOs/VOs and signatories will be jointly responsible to refund the amount.

If the government is not satisfied with the progress of the projects or considers that the guidelines have been violated, it reserves the right to terminate the grant in aid with immediate effect.