India Non-Committal on Funding Curbs on U.K.

NGOs

- Charvi

Date: 14 February 2022

During a virtual meeting between British Permanent Home Secretary, Matthew Rycroft and
Union Home Secretary, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, high-level exchanges ahead of a possible visit
by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson later this year, U.K. discussed foreign funding
restrictions placed on Oxfam and other British NGOs, requesting the Union Home Ministry
to reconsider its decision to deny these NGOs India’s registration renewal application under
the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

As per a government official, the issue was raised by United Kingdom [officials], and they
were explained the process [of FCRA renewals]. But India did not give any assurances on
whether the cases would be reviewed, as the Home Ministry had decided to do with the
Missionaries of Charity, because the issue was neither raised “formally” nor in writing. At the
same meeting, India expressed concerns regarding “anti-India activities of certain extremists
and radical elements in the U.K,” as per a statement by the MHA.
According to diplomatic sources, the delegation had also raised the denial of FCRA
registration to UKNGO 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.

On January 1, 2022, the MHA issued a list of about 6,000 NGOs whose FCRA registration or
licence to receive foreign funds had ceased to operate as the Ministry refused to renew their
application or the NGOs did not apply for one. The MHA had not given specific reasons for
the nonrenewal of Oxfam India, Oxfam India Trust and others, but said the decision had been
taken in “public interest”, without further details. Oxfam subsequently filled a review petition
with the government on January 14, while the MHA acknowledged receipt, it has not
communicated any decision in the matter.