Update your FCRA Bank Details

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after publishing (on 12^th May 2017) a list of 18,523 NGOs whose annual returns are allegedly not on the FCRA department’s records, has now published (on 7^th June 2017) names of 2,025 NGOs who the department feels need to ‎update their FCRA Bank details. 

Click here to view MHA’s aforesaid circular:

https://fcraonline.nic.in/home/PDF_Doc/fc_circular_07062017.pdf

The names of the 2,025 NGOs have been listed alphabetically and the list can be viewed at:

https://fcraonline.nic.in/home/PDF_Doc/fc_list_07062017.pdf

MHA has given these NGOs 15 days’s time to update the details. Details regarding FCRA Designated and FCRA Utilization accounts should be filled up online through Form FC6.‎

Even if your NGO is not listed among these unfortunate 2,025, it would be good to check online if your FCRA Bank details on MHA’s online portal are accurate. One way to do this is by going to https://fcraonline.nic.in and clicking on the tab “Intimation – Annual Returns (FC 4)” and after entering your user id, password and Access Code verify if details regarding your FCRA Designated and FCRA Utilization accounts are accurate and if not go to Form FC6 and update the Account Number, Bank Name, Branch Name & Address and the IFSC code of your Bank. In case your NGO has FCRA Utilization Accounts, this is the time to update that information too.

We also take this opportunity to remind those among the 18,523 NGOs listed by MHA to upload their missing FCRA returns (for FY 2010-11 to FY 2014-15) online before 14^thJune 2017.

Hurry! Barely a few days remain!!

Niti Aayog & NGO-DARPAN - Do NGOs need to Register?

Niti Aayog & NGO-DARPAN - 

This article is in response to a number of queries that we have recently received from within the voluntary sector regarding Niti Aayog and whether it is mandatory for charitable organisations / NGOs to register themselves on the NGO-Darpan platform.

What is Niti Aayog?

Niti Aayog came into existence on 1^st January 2015 when the Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi abolished the 65 years old Planning Commission. It is “The National Institution for Transforming India”, a premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the Government of India, providing both directional and policy inputs. At the core of NITI Aayog’s creation are two hubs – ‘Team India Hub’ and the ‘Knowledge and Innovation Hub’. The Team India Hub leads the engagement of states with the Central government, while the Knowledge and Innovation Hub builds NITI’s think-tank capabilities.

 

What is NGO-DARPAN?

NGO-Darpan (NGO Mirror) is a platform that provides space for interface between Voluntary Organisations / NGOs and key Government Ministries / Departments / Government Bodies. It is a free facility offered by NITI Aayog in association with National Informatics Centre to bring about greater partnership between government & voluntary sector and foster better transparency, efficiency and accountability.

This portal enables VOs / NGOs to enroll centrally and thus facilitates creation of a repository of information about VOs / NGOs, Sector / State wise. The Portal facilitates VOs / NGOs to obtain a system generated Unique ID, as and when signed.

The Unique ID is mandatory for NGOs wanting to apply for grants under various schemes of Ministries/Departments/Governments Bodies.

As of the moment 28,845 NGOs enrolled on this portal.

Web link: http://niti.gov.in/content/ngo-darpan

Is it Mandatory to Register on NGO-Darpan?

In a recent hearing, the Supreme Court of India had asked the Central Government to explore the possibility of a new law to regulate fund utilization by NGOs who receive government grants. However, instead, the government has framed guidelines requiring NGOs and other voluntary organisations to register with Niti Aayog in order to receive funding under various government schemes and thus, Niti Aayog is now appointed as the nodal agency for the purpose of registration and accreditation of NGOs/voluntary organisations seeking funds from the government.

NGO-Darpan platform is an upgraded version of a similar initiative started by the former Planning Commission in 2006. However, back then, registering on the Planning Commission’s platform was not mandatory, whereas now registering on NGO-Darpan has been made mandatory for NGOs aspiring to secure funding support under various Government Schemes.

NGO-Darpan requires several disclosures including the Aadhaar number and PAN of chief executives of NGOs.

Conclusion: Every NGO need not register on NGO-Darpan. However, registering on NGO-Darpan has been made mandatory for NGOs aspiring to secure funding support under various Government Schemes.

Right to Information - CIC orders details of welfare schemes to be placed on website

In an effort to bring about transparency and accountability in the implementation of State Government Schemes, Maharashtra’s Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Ratnakar Gaikwad has directed all public authorities in the State to upload “complete information” about all welfare schemes being implemented by various departments on their respective websites before April 30, 2017. 

 

We are not sure if this has been implemented by all departments of the Government and former CIC and leading Right to Information (RTI) activist Shailesh Gandhi who had originally filed the complaint has in an email to CAP, requested “all NGOs to check specific departments and see if the order has been implemented”. Gandhi has added, “We have a great order from a responsive commission and we must now ensure and enforce its implementation.”

Gaikwad, who invoked powers vested with him under section 19 (8) (a) of RTI Act to issue a directive to the Maharashtra government, stated in his order: “Section 4 (1) (b) of Right to Information Act, 2005 is the heart and soul of the RTI Act, which makes it mandatory to all public authorities to disclose information about 17 aspects of public authorities which, inter alia, covers schemes implemented by public authorities, and list of beneficiaries to be displayed on the websites of respective public authority”.

To ensure compliance with this order, Gaikwad has also provided a detailed format in which information should be made public on the websites by every government department. Details to be included are: name of the scheme, its salient features, especially budget provisions, number of beneficiaries likely to be covered, eligibility criteria, format of application for the scheme, date of receipt of application, date of approval, and date of rejection with brief reasons for rejection. 

 

Public welfare schemes otherwise largely remain a secret and there have been alleged cases of large-scale irregularities and financial misappropriation. Besides, there are many welfare schemes of various government and municipal bodies but, often, intended beneficiaries are not aware of these schemes, their eligibility criteria or how to avail of them. The whole exercise of floating schemes is futile if beneficiaries are unaware about the same or have to run from pillar to post to get updates from officials in the concerned departments.

It is thanks to former Central Information Commissioner and leading Right to Information (RTI) activist Shailesh Gandhi that people will now have access to this vital information, at the click of the mouse. 

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