New Delhi: The Home Ministry said it has decided to keep a watch on all activities funded by Ford Foundation and by exercising the powers conferred under Section 46 of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 2010, directed Reserve Bank of India to ensure that funds coming from it be brought to the notice of the Home Ministry.
This action was taken after it was found that it had given funds to Teesta Setalvad's NGO. Teesta's NGO is not authorised to receive foreign funds under the foreign currency regulation act. Teesta's funding has already been put under the scanner by the Gujarat Government.
"RBI is requested to instruct all the banks and their branches to ensure that any fund flow from the above mentioned agency to any person, NGO, organisation in India may be brought to the notice of the (Home) ministry so that funds are allowed to be credited into the accounts of the recipient only after clearance of of this ministry," the order said.
There have been allegations that the recipient NGOs have not filed mandatory annual reports and balance sheets with the government.
The Home Ministry in its order also said that government organisations can avail of foreign funding from Ford Foundation only with the clearance of the Department of Economic Affairs.
"Any instance of government organisation receiving funds directly from this agency may be withheld and brought to the notice of this Ministry," the order said.
Early this month, the Home Ministry has frozen seven bank accounts of Greenpeace India and barred it from receiving foreign funds for allegedly violating FCRA and "prejudicially" affecting the country's public and economic interests.
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