Centre extends deadline for NGOs to open account with SBI till June 30 for foreign aid
New Delhi, May 19 (UNI) The Centre on Monday extended the deadline till June 30 for Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to open its bank account in State Bank of India to receive foreign funding.
In a order issued by the FCRA wing in Foreigners Division, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decided to extend the deadline for NGOs to open their accounts with the State Bank of India’s (SBI) main branch here from March 31, 2021 to June 30, 2021 for receiving foreign donations for their activities.
Opening of an account in the SBI’s branch is a mandatory requirement for the NGOs under the amended provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) enacted in September 2020 to receive foreign donations.
MHA Refuses to Reveal Why FCRA Was Amended, Even as Changes Impair NGOsâ COVID Aid Efforts
Disclosure of this information will not serve any interest, the MHA says. But if there is no public interest in disclosure, why was the FCRA and its rules amended in the first place, asks RTI activist Venkatesh Nayak.
An India Rupee note is seen in this illustration photo June 1, 2017. Photo:Reuters/Thomas White/Illustration
Rights4 hours ago
New Delhi: Even as non-government organisations (NGOs) face severe fund shortages due to changes in the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) effected by the Centre last year â which has adversely impacted their ability to reach out to the poor and marginalised in both rural and urban areas during the second wave of the coronavirus in India â the Centre has repeatedly thwarted attempts by Right to Information (RTI) activists to access details surrounding the reasons why the Act was amended.