69 NGOs barred from getting foreign funds

New Delhi, March 15 (IANS) Sixty-nine NGOs have been barred from receiving foreign funds since May 2011, the government told parliament on Tuesday.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijuju told the Lok Sabha in a written statement that records and accounts of associations or NGOs were inspected in the event of complaints that they violated the law.

On the basis of verification and after following due process, charges were framed and penal action was decided under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 and Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011.

"So far, on account of serious violations, 32 cases have been referred to the CBI and 10 cases have been referred to state police for further investigation and necessary action," he added.

The number of organisations prohibited from getting foreign funds include 14 from Andhra Pradesh, 12 from Tamil Nadu, five each Odisha and Gujarat, four each from Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, three each from Delhi, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, two each from Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh, and one each from Manipur, Haryana and Chandigarh.