Six NGOs banned from receiving foreign funds, a step taken under the FERA Act

- Six out of four are Christian NGOs

New Delhi, 7 September 2020 Monday

The central government banned a total of six NGOs, including four Christians, from accepting foreign donations. These measures were taken under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FERA).

The central government had received reports that some Christian organizations were using various temptations to convert. That is why the central government kept an eye on some institutions. Two U.S. donors were also under central scrutiny. These donors were constantly sending money to dubious NGOs. The information was given by a government source on condition of anonymity.

Concerns were raised about American donors, including the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Baptist Church, the source said. Further investigation is currently underway.

The four Christian NGOs that were banned from accepting foreign donations included the Acrosoculis North Western Gosner Evangelical in Jharkhand, the Evangelical Churches Association in Manipur, the Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jharkhand and the Newfeno Church in Mumbai.

It is important to note that any NGO must have a license to raise foreign funds. No explanation was given as to why the donations from the four organizations were withheld.

The New Life Fellowship Association's license was revoked in February this year, according to a Home Ministry report. Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal disrupted a prayer meeting of the organization held in Mumbai last year.

Both these organizations claimed that there was a lot of activity here under the pretext of prayer. A police complaint was also lodged.

A newspaper group did not respond to an e-mail seeking clarification from the Centre's Home Department.