There are significant ammendments being brought in the bill in Lok Sabha.
(Representative photo: PTI)The Centre is set to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act which was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Sunday.
There are significant amendments being brought in the bill.The Bill proposes that not more than 20% of the total foreign funds received could be defrayed for administrative expenses.
Presently the limit is at 50%.PARLIAMENT LIVE UPDATES HEREThis means that public servants will be barred from receiving any foreign contribution as per the new amendment.
NGOs or associations registered under the Act will also be barred from the same.
They will not be able to use more than 20% of their FCRA amount towards meeting administrative expenses.Another proposed change says, " Every person who has been granted a certificate or prior permission under section 12 shall receive foreign contribution only in an account designated as "FCRA Account" by the bank, which shall be opened by him for the purpose of remittances of foreign contribution in such branch of the State Bank of India at New Delhi.
The person may also open another FCRA Account in any of the scheduled banks of his choice for the purpose of keeping or utilising the foreign contribution which has been received from his FCRA Account in the specified branch of State Bank of India at New Delhi: Provided further that such person may also open one or more accounts in one or more scheduled banks of his choice to which he may transfer for utilising any foreign contribution received by him in his FCRA account in the specified branch of the State Bank of India at New Delhi or kept by him in another FCRA Account in a scheduled bank of his choice: Provided also that no funds other than foreign contribution shall be received or deposited in any such account."This, many experts say, puts the NGOs that revive foreign remittances under a huge scanner.The Centre also proposes to make Aadhar a mandatory identification document for all the office bearers, directors and other key functionaries of an NGO or an association eligible to receive foreign donations.
Similarly, a copy of the Passport or Overseas Citizen of India Card is mandatory, in case of office-bearer is a foreigner."Point 8 of the Bill also proposes suspension of the FCRA certificate by 180 days or a period of six months which, according to sources, will be reviewed and be extended for the same period till terms are met by the NGO.