Monitor NGOs For ‘Anti-National Activities’, Centre Tells States

Govt has written to states & union territories to monitor activities of NGOs involved in “anti-national activities”.

File image of the Home Ministry building. 

(Photo: PTI)

The Centre has written to state governments and union territories to “monitor” the activities of NGOs that indulge in “anti-national activities”, The Indian Express reported.

The move comes after a government crackdown on NGOs over alleged violations of norms related to foreign funding.

According to the report, Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry, Daniel E Richards, sent out a communication which reads: “It has come to notice that some NGOs and organisations are involved in anti-national activities… The States/UTs are requested to take urgent action and ensure that state police also monitor the activities and funding of such NGOs and other organisations.”

Police have also been asked to track activities of NGOs engaged in protests against various “development projects” in states, the report quoted government officials as saying.

“The issue of NGOs indulging in “anti-development” and “anti-national” activities will be taken up during the DGP-IGP conference in December, another official told The Indian Express.

According to Home Ministry records, the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licences of more than 13,000 NGOs were cancelled in 2014 for “negatively impacting economic development”, the report said.

(With inputs from The Indian Express)