Editor's Pick: FCRA strikes on Christmas

The licence of the Kolkata-bases Missionaries of Charity to receive foreign funds under the Foreign Contributions (Regulations) Act has not been renewed by the Union Home Ministry citing "adverse reports". The religious congregation founded by Nobel laureate Mother Theresa has since stopped using the accounts linked to the licence. The issue came to prominence when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted that the accounts of the congregation had been frozen by the Home Ministry. The Missionaries of Charity later clarified that the accounts had not been frozen and that the issue at present is only the non-renewal of the licence. The Union Home Ministry, which oversees the FCRA regime, has been tightening controls over the funds flowing to NGOs from foreign sources over the last few years. Licences of several organisations have been suspended, and banks and chartered accounts have been asked to keep a close eye on organisations and their donors. Christian organisations have been under close scrutiny as well as many receive considerable amounts of funds via the FCRA route, and right-wing organisations accuse them of using the money to promote religious conversion. Missionaries of Charity and Mother Theresa are names that have been linked with charitable actions, particularly in West Bengal, for decades. The non-renewal of licence of this long-established institution also comes at a time when attacks on Christian institutions are being reported in several parts of the country. It is the combination of these factors that makes this story important. The Hindu Editorials A progressive step: On setting of panel for AFSPA by Nagaland Tightening grip: On Hong Kong-China relations Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor's Pick and more. Click here Try out The Hindu's daily news quiz What is the first war of Indian independence called? 1. Sepoy Mutiny 2. Battle of Plassey 3. Battle of Buxar 4. Paik Rebellion To find out the answer and play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 28 DECEMBER 2021 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( FCRA strikes on Christmas [FCRA strikes on Christmas] The licence of the Kolkata-bases Missionaries of Charity to receive foreign funds under the Foreign Contributions (Regulations) Act has not been renewed by the Union Home Ministry citing "adverse reports". The [religious congregation founded by Nobel laureate Mother Theresa has since stopped using the accounts linked to the licence.]( The issue came to prominence when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted that the accounts of the congregation had been frozen by the Home Ministry. The Missionaries of Charity later clarified that the accounts had not been frozen and that the issue at present is only the non-renewal of the licence. The Union Home Ministry, which oversees the FCRA regime, has been [tightening controls over the funds flowing to NGOs from foreign sources over the last few years](. Licences of several organisations have been suspended, and banks and chartered accounts have been asked to keep a close eye on organisations and their donors. Christian organisations have been under close scrutiny as well as many receive considerable amounts of funds via the FCRA route, and right-wing organisations accuse them of using the money to promote religious conversion. [Missionaries of Charity and Mother Theresa are names that have been linked with charitable actions]( particularly in West Bengal, for decades. The non-renewal of licence of this long-established institution also comes at a time when attacks on Christian institutions are being reported in several parts of the country. It is the combination of these factors that makes this story important. [underlineimg] The Hindu Editorials [Arrow][A progressive step: On setting of panel for AFSPA by Nagaland]( [Arrow][Tightening grip: On Hong Kong-China relations]( [underlineimg] Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor's Pick and more. [Click here]( [underlineimg] Try out The Hindu's daily news quiz What is the first war of Indian independence called? 1. Sepoy Mutiny 2. Battle of Plassey 3. Battle of Buxar 4. Paik Rebellion To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here](. 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