Home Ministry directed over 1200 NGOs to validate their bank accounts

Home Ministry has directed over 1200 NGOs across the country to validate their bank accounts in which they receive foreign contribution. In a circular, the Ministry said, a number of such non-governmental organisations have not validated their foreign contribution designated accounts which are causing problems for the banks to comply with the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) provisions.

All NGOs registered under the FCRA should receive foreign donations in a single designated bank account. The Ministry said, these associations are required to validate their foreign designated accounts and also the utilisation accounts immediately and send the details. It said, non-compliance may lead to penal actions as per FCRA 2010.

The Centre has already cancelled registration of more than ten thousand NGOs in the last three years for alleged non-filing of annual returns as mandated in the FCRA.