Tough norms to regulate NGO funding soon: Govt

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

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 with a unique ID and subjected to the FCRA and I-T Act . The NGOs must give details of the audited account, IT 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 too will be put under scrutiny before accreditation. The accredited NGOs will be subject to a three-tier scrutiny to evaluate the funds utilised. The scrutiny would also include the quality of work.

The guidelines also state the NGOs and VOs getting govt funds are required to execute a bond to refund the amount with a 10% interest if work was not done.