US concerned over foreign NGOs 'facing challenges' in India
NEW DELHI: As US-based donor Compassion International shuts down its local operations, the US has called for a transparent process for foreign NGOs that, it said, has been facing “significant challenges” for the past few years in India.
“NGOs do valuable work overseas. Certainly these countries and governments have their own reasons for the laws they pass, but we believe it should be transparent and clear why they are shutting down these organisations,” the State Department’s acting spokesman Mark Toner said at the daily news briefing on Wednesday.
In December last year, the Indian Home Ministry said it was unlikely to reconsider its decision banning the US-based donor from funding Indian NGOs despite consistent appeals by the American authorities. The Christian charity was put under the ‘prior permission category’ in May last year. When a donor organisation is put under this category, it cannot fund any Indian NGO without the government’s approval.
Toner expressed concern over the Christian charity closing down its operations and said that the US would take up the matter with the Indian government.
“When a group like Compassion International, which we believe is doing important work in India and is closed down, it’s a matter of concern. Certainly, we’ll raise that with the Indian government.”
He expressed concern over the challenges faced by the foreign NGOs to continue their operations in India.
“Unfortunately, we have seen over the past couple of years a number of foreign-funded NGOs in India that have encountered significant challenges in continuing their operations,” Toner said.
The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, however, said that any foreign NGO in any country worldwide is bound by local laws. “There is a well-established legal framework for NGOs to conduct their operations in India. India has one of the largest NGO networks in the world,” MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay noted. For his part, Toner said that all parties should work cooperatively by adhering to the Indian laws.
“We believe it’s imperative that all parties work transparently and cooperatively in a way that not only respects Indian laws, but also encourages a transparent process,” he said in response to a question.
“NGOs do valuable work overseas. Certainly these countries and governments have their own reasons for the laws they pass, but we believe it should be transparent and clear why they are shutting down these organisations,” the State Department’s acting spokesman Mark Toner said at the daily news briefing on Wednesday.
In December last year, the Indian Home Ministry said it was unlikely to reconsider its decision banning the US-based donor from funding Indian NGOs despite consistent appeals by the American authorities. The Christian charity was put under the ‘prior permission category’ in May last year. When a donor organisation is put under this category, it cannot fund any Indian NGO without the government’s approval.
Toner expressed concern over the Christian charity closing down its operations and said that the US would take up the matter with the Indian government.
“When a group like Compassion International, which we believe is doing important work in India and is closed down, it’s a matter of concern. Certainly, we’ll raise that with the Indian government.”
He expressed concern over the challenges faced by the foreign NGOs to continue their operations in India.
“Unfortunately, we have seen over the past couple of years a number of foreign-funded NGOs in India that have encountered significant challenges in continuing their operations,” Toner said.
The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, however, said that any foreign NGO in any country worldwide is bound by local laws. “There is a well-established legal framework for NGOs to conduct their operations in India. India has one of the largest NGO networks in the world,” MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay noted. For his part, Toner said that all parties should work cooperatively by adhering to the Indian laws.
“We believe it’s imperative that all parties work transparently and cooperatively in a way that not only respects Indian laws, but also encourages a transparent process,” he said in response to a question.
