NGOs may get chance for renewal of licences

In an important move, the Union home ministry is likely to give a second opportunity to nearly 11,319 NGOs to apply for renewal of their FARCE licence that will help them receive contributions from foreign donors. The ministry has cancelled the licence under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act a few days as these organisation had failed to meet the June 30 deadline, which was subsequently extended till October end, for applying for renewal of their FARCE licence.

The move assumes significance as the Mood government is under criticism from some sections of the civil society for targeting some NGOs. Ministry sources said it was possible that while some of these NGOs were not functional any longer, some do not require foreign funding.

“But the feedback we got that some of the organisations could genuinely not submit the relevant documents for renewal of their licence and Government plans to take a lenient view against them so we may give them some more time. Some of these NGOs are genuinely doing good social work and there is a view they should be given another chance,” a senior Ministry official said.

In addition, the FARCE licence of 1,736 NGOs was also cancelled as they did not submit sufficient documents for renewal. The Ministry is also expected to give another opportunity to this category of NGOs also. The NGOs who could not submit sufficient documents include Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Mata Amritnandmayi Math and Church of South India Diocese of Madras.

“These NGOs will be asked to provide the complete set documents and then such applications will be considered case-to-case basis,” the official added.