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Govt warns NGOs against using foreign funds for religious conversion

Written by : PTI

The Centre on Wednesday warned of action against NGOs which spend foreign contribution in unauthenticated activities like religious conversion saying any such violation will be dealt with as per law.

"This is not an issue of communal conversion. But we go as per FCRA rules which NGOs need to abide be. If there are violations, then there has to be action.

"Our purpose is to ensure that money of NGOs should be spent for purposes mentioned by them," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told reporters in New Delhi.

Rijiju was replying to a question on reports that government plans to take action against some NGOs which were allegedly indulging in religious conversion.

According to reports the Home Ministry is verifying the accounts of some NGOs which were allegedly indulging in unauthenticated activities like religious conversion.

The reports suggested that 18 foreign donors have been identified who help such NGOs.

According to a Home Ministry statistics, altogether Rs 13,051 crore foreign contribution was received by 17,616 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the country in 2013-14.

Rs 11,527 crore foreign funds were received by 20,497 NGOs in 2012-2013 and Rs 11,558 crore was received by 22,747 NGOs in 2011-2012.

NGOs are required to seek registration or prior permission under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 2010 (FCRA) to receive foreign contribution.

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