Editor's Pick: India non-committal on curbs on U.K. NGOs

U.K. officials discussed foreign funding restrictions placed on Oxfam and other British NGOs with India last week, requesting the Union Home Ministry to reconsider its decision to deny Oxfam India’s registration renewal application under the Foreign Regulation Act (FCRA). The request came during a virtual meeting British Permanent Home Secretary Matthew Rycroft had with Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, one of a number of high-level exchanges ahead of a possible visit by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson later this year. The U.K. has not flagged the issue formally or in writing. At the meeting, India expressed concern regarding “anti-India activities of certain extremists and radical elements in the U.K.” a statement by the MHA said. Oxfam India is one of the country’s largest NGOs that works in food, clothing, shelter and medical projects and is one of the 6000 NGOs whose FCRA registration or licences to receive foreign funds had ceased following a decision taken by the MHA to deny renewal of their application. The Ministry said the decision had been taken in “public interest”, without giving further details. “The issue was raised by United Kingdom (officials) and they were explained the process of FCRA renewals, ‘‘, a government source told the newspaper. The source confirmed that the request had been made; however, India had given the British side no assurances on whether the cases would be reviewed, as the Home Ministry had decided to do with the Missionaries of Charity, whose registration request was denied around the same time, but subsequently restored. According to diplomatic sources, the delegation had also raised the denial of FCRA registration to UK-NGO Freedom Fund, which was one of 10 American, Australian, British and European NGOs dealing with environmental, climate change and child labour issues, which had lost their licences due to what the government called “adverse inputs” on their partnerships in India. While the non-renewal also meant that the NGO lost access to over Rs 62 crore in its designated bank accounts that had come from international donors, it raises questions on the Government’s intent on civil society engagements articulated by NGOs. As an editorial in the newspaper had pointed out, the move exposes the hypocrisy of the Government given that political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, face no restrictions of funds under electoral bonds under the same FCRA. The move comes at a time when India is yet to recover from the crippling impact of COVID-19 and the poorer people who might have benefitted from the benevolence of the NGOs will be impacted the most. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. Click here The Hindu’s Editorials A faltering recovery: On flailing factory output trends For something: On the Quad Try out The Hindu’s daily news quiz America has said it will open an embassy in which South Pacific nation? The Solomon Islands Tonga Papua New Guinea Fiji To find out the answer and play the full quiz, click here [logo] Editor's Pick 14 FEBRUARY 2022 [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]( India non-committal on curbs on U.K. NGOs [India non-committal on curbs on U.K. NGOs] U.K. officials discussed [foreign funding restrictions placed on Oxfam]( and other British NGOs with India last week, requesting the Union Home Ministry to reconsider its decision to deny Oxfam India’s registration renewal application under the Foreign Regulation Act (FCRA). The request came during a virtual meeting British Permanent Home Secretary Matthew Rycroft had with Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, one of a number of high-level exchanges ahead of a possible visit by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson later this year. The U.K. has not flagged the issue formally or in writing. At the meeting, India expressed concern regarding “anti-India activities of certain extremists and radical elements in the U.K.” a statement by the MHA said. [Oxfam India is one of the country’s largest NGOs]( that works in food, clothing, shelter and medical projects and is one of the 6000 NGOs whose FCRA registration or licences to receive foreign funds had ceased following a decision taken by the MHA to deny renewal of their application. The Ministry said the decision had been taken in “public interest”, without giving further details. “The issue was raised by United Kingdom (officials) and they were explained the process of FCRA renewals, ‘‘, a government source told the newspaper. The source confirmed that the request had been made; however, India had given the British side no assurances on whether the cases would be reviewed, as the Home Ministry had decided to do with the Missionaries of Charity, whose registration request was denied around the same time, but subsequently restored. According to diplomatic sources, the delegation had also raised the denial of FCRA registration to UK-NGO Freedom Fund, which was one of 10 American, Australian, British and European NGOs dealing with environmental, climate change and child labour issues, which had lost their licences due to what the government called “adverse inputs” on their partnerships in India. While the non-renewal also meant that the NGO lost access to over Rs 62 crore in its designated bank accounts that had come from international donors, it raises questions on the Government’s intent on civil society engagements articulated by NGOs.  As an editorial in the newspaper had pointed out, the move exposes the hypocrisy of the Government  given that political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party,  face no restrictions of funds under electoral bonds under the same FCRA. The move comes at a time when India is yet to recover from the crippling impact of COVID-19 and the poorer people who might have benefitted from the benevolence of the NGOs will be impacted the most. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more.  [Click here]( The Hindu’s Editorials [A faltering recovery: On flailing factory output trends]( [For something: On the Quad]( Try out The Hindu’s daily news quiz America has said it will open an embassy in which South Pacific nation? - The Solomon Islands - Tonga - Papua New Guinea - Fiji To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here]( Today's Best Reads [[In Uttar Pradesh, the crux of welfare politics] In Uttar Pradesh, the crux of welfare politics]( [[No crypto asset investors dispute taxability of profits: J.B. Mohapatra] No crypto asset investors dispute taxability of profits: J.B. 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