New Delhi: The Indian government has included Caritas Internationalis in the list of overseas agencies that require prior permission to fund humanitarian works in the country, a private TV channel said.
The Catholic charity has been accused of indulging in “anti-India activities,” NDTV ;reported quoting top government sources.
Caritas Internationalis, the social arm of the Vatican can no longer receive foreign funds without prior clearance from the government.
Others in the list are Sabrang International and Unity for Peace & Justice of Teesta Setalvad, a leading human rights activist in the country.
Both Caritas Internationalis and Setalvad’s organizations have been charged for using foreign money to fund political activity – which is considered to be a major violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
A top Caritas India official has denied the allegations.
“We have been filing all our returns, documents in time according to law,” Father Paul V Moonjely, assistant executive director of Caritas India, told NDTV.
“We necessarily don’t find this a hindrance because we anyway declare all our funding to the government,” he said and added that the organization was partnering with the federal Health ministry in anti- malarial campaigns across the northeastern states. Besides working on National Rural Health Mission, the organization works with over 300 other NGOs, the priest added.
Top government officials said that more than 100 NGO are likely to face similar action and another 1,000 odd are being investigated
The federal Home Ministry has asked to all states to direct all financial institutions, including banks in their jurisdiction, to keep a close watch on foreign funding to NGOs. Sources have told NDTV that the ministry is investigating over 1,000 NGOs for allegedly misusing foreign funds.
In April, the US-based charity Ford Foundation was also placed on the watch-list stopped from funding local organizations without permission. But action against Caritas Internationalis may have diplomatic fallout.
NGOs and lobby groups have been on the government’s radar since a report last year by the Intelligence Bureau said they had been stalling economic growth by campaigning against power projects, mining and genetically modified food.
The home ministry sent notices to 12,000 NGOs earlier this year.
Most NGOs under scanner seem to be those working among tribal and dalit people who oppose big transnational firms’ attempt to displace them from their habitat.