Neeraj Rohmetra
Jammu, June 12: Union Home Ministry has cancelled the license of about 36 NGOs, including several prominent organisations for their failure to submit the mandatory annual returns.
Reliable sources said “the decision to cancel the registration of these entities under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) has been taken by the MHA after examination of their activities that allegedly including non-filling of annual returns and other anomalies”, adding, “all the associations were given proper notices by the Foreign Division of the Home Ministry with adequate time to reply before their FCRA licences were cancelled”.
Documents in possession of EXCELSIOR indicated several of these associations were running prominent health and educational institutions, but had failed to submit the mandatory annual returns to the Ministry of Home Affairs for the years 2009-2010, 2010-11 and 2011-12. The list also included several religious institutions fanned across the State.
“Prominent Associations, whose registration had been cancelled included Bee Enn Charitable Trust, Jammu, which is also running a hospital by name of Bee Enn Charitable Hospital and D P Dhar Memorial Trust, Kamal Village, Sonwar, which is running Delhi Public School, Srinagar”, sources said.
Sources added, “the list also contained several religious institutions including Samjee Pappy Kallimes Church of Christ, Katra, Udhampur; St. Paul’s Church, The Manse, Residency Road, Jammu; Prefecture Apostolic of J&K Catholic Church, Maulana Azad Road, Srinagar; Sir Sayed Muslim Institute of Education, Behrot, Thanna marts, Rajouri; J&K Darul Fazal Home for the Zoram Evangelical Fellowship, Shivpora, Srinagar and Madrasa Taleemul Quran, Sazgari Porah, Srinagar”, says the document.
Other Associations in Jammu province, whose registration has been cancelled for failure to submit the mandatory details included J&K Samaj Kalyan Kendra, Shahidi Chowk, Jammu; J&K Mahila Seva Sangh, Jammu; Kashmir Rural uplift, P O Latti Bandokh, Tehsil Ramnagar, Udhampur; Society Sanitation De Economic Mubarak Mandi, Jammu; J&K Paryavaran Sangathan, Gadadhar Mandir, Mubarak Mandi; Adarsh Nari Sudhar Centre, Mira Sahib, R S Pura; Shivam Women and Children Welfare Society, 54/A, Block A/D, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu; Society for Consumer Protection and Environment, 7, Panj Bakhtar Road, Jammu; Rural Artisan Welfare Society, 219, Sector Z, JDA Colony, Roop Nagar, Jammu and Be Sahara Village Industry Social Forestry and Agricultural, Agriculture Research Centre, Chagwal, Hiranagar, Kathua
Associations operating in Kashmir province included Cancer Society of Kashmir, Lal Mandi Chowk, Srinagar; J&K Khatoon Welfare Society, Near Star Clinic Regal Lane, Municipal Complex Srinagar; All Jammu and Kashmir Saffron Grower’s and Dealers Association, Ladhu Road, Namblabal, Pampore, Pulwama; The Tibetan Muslim Refugee Welfare Association, Badam Wari, Srinagar; Kashmir Dastakar Anjuman, opposite Pratap Park, Residency Road, Srinagar and Rattan Rani Hospital, Sathoo Barbar Shah, Srinagar.
Several Associations functioning from Ladakh area have also figured in the defaulter’s list and these included Photang Urgyan Dorje Chozong, Saboo Takar, Leh; Ladakh Amchi Sabha, Sorig Kunfaling Complex, blow Main Post office, Leh; Kargil Restoration Project, opposite Auditorium Kargil; Wakka Mulbek Welfare Project, Green House, Kargil; Buddhist Youth Association, Kargil, Cultural Prevention Environmental and Area Development Group, Padum, Kargil; SoS Tibetan Village, Choglamser, Ladakh; Sonamling Tibetan Settlement, Choglamser, Ladakh; Ladakhs Committee for Tibetan Revision, Ladakh; Save the Children Fun North West India, Leh; Karma Dupgyad Chhoeling Cultural & Welfare Association, Tibetan Monastery, Ladakh and Aide A L’enfance Tibetaine, Leh.
“The registration of these associations has been cancelled for non-filing of returns within the stipulated time period under Section 14(1)(d) of FCRA, 2010 for violating Section 18 thereof and Rule 17(1) of FCRR 2011”, sources said adding, “association registered under FCRA 2010 are required to submit annual report in Form FC-6, accompanied by an income and expenditure statement, receipt and payment account, balance sheet, etc. for every financial year beginning on April 1, to the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs”.
As per provision of FCRA, even associations which did not receive foreign contribution during a particular year are also required to furnish a NIL returns for that financial year within the aforesaid period. Thus, non-submission of mandatory annual return is violation of FCRA 2010 and FCRA 2011. “On scrutiny of records, it had been found that the mandatory annual returns for the years 2009-2010, 2010-11 and 2011-12 have not been received from these associations”, sources pointed out.
As per letter no F.No. 11/21022/58(040)/2015-FCRA of the Union Home Ministry, which has been addressed to District Magistrates of concerned districts, “repeated show cause notices had been issued to these associations and despite several reminders, these associations had failed to submit necessary information. Therefore, in exercise of powers conferred by Section 14 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, the Central Government has cancelled their Certificate of Registration for having violated Section 18 thereof read with Rule 17(1) of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rule, 2011.
“All the concerned District Magistrates, under whose jurisdiction these associations are operating, have been directed to manage the assets of the associations during the period of cancellation in such manner as considered necessary and in public interest”.
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