The Union Home Ministry on Tuesday informed Lok Sabha that more than 5,800 NGOs in the country are receiving foreign funding to carry various religious activities. The Ministry also said that the Government has not received any proposal to extend the dates of registrations regarding the National Register for Citizens (NRC) in Assam
Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju said as per the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, registered NGOs can receive foreign contribution for five purposes — social, educational, religious, economic and cultural. “Presently 5,804 NGOs are registered for religious purpose under the Act,” he said replying a written question.
Rijiju said activities of the NGOs aimed at conversion through inducement or force either directly or indirectly, from one faith to another are prohibited under the Act. “For any such violations reported, action as per the FCRA, 2010 is taken against the defaulting NGOs,” he said.
According to home ministry statistics, a total of 23,176 NGOs have received Rs 15,329.16 crore during 2016-17. There are around 7,800 NGOs which work for social purposes and 4,800 NGOs which work for educational purposes.