The Union home ministry has taken action against six non-governmental organisations (NGOs) by cancelling their Foreign Contribution Registration Act (FCRA) licences. The decision was made following a scrutiny conducted by the Centre in March-April of this year, as per officials familiar with the developments. 

The NGOs facing cancellation of their FCRA licences include the Diocesan Society Church of North, Jesus and Mary Delhi Educational Society, Delhi Diocese Overseas Grant Fund, Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), Samuel Foundation Charitable India Trust, and Hemophilia Federation of India (HFI). This move comes after the home ministry recently revoked the FCRA licences of five other prominent NGOs on similar charges of violations. 

Upon reaching out to the affected NGOs for comment, email queries sent on April 25 remained unanswered. However, representatives from some of the NGOs have expressed their dissatisfaction, stating that the cancellations were made on arbitrary grounds. They have filed revision petitions with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in response to the decision. The representatives further highlighted the challenges they are facing in carrying out day-to-day activities due to financial constraints resulting from the revocation of their licences. 

One of the affected NGOs, the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), is renowned as one of India’s leading academic institutions focusing on economic and social development. With internationally acclaimed faculty members and a history of hosting distinguished scholars, including Nobel laureates Elinor Ostrom and Amartya Sen, the IEG has made significant contributions to research in various fields, such as women’s participation in the workforce, child malnutrition, and the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Another NGO impacted by the decision is the Samuel Foundation Charitable India Trust, which has been providing technical education programmes since its establishment in 1993. Additionally, the Hemophilia Federation of India (HFI) claims to be the national umbrella organisation dedicated to working for children suffering from hemophilia. 

As the affected NGOs navigate through this challenging period, the decision to revoke their FCRA licences underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring compliance with regulations governing foreign contributions and preventing misuse of funds by NGOs.