NGOs under govt scanner following IB warning

[santosh10]

NGOs under govt scanner following IB warning

The Prime Minister's Office has written to all the ministries twice, asking them to furnish details of NGOs working with them on various projects. This comes soon after the PMO received a report from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) alleging that NGOs were threatening India's economic security. :ranger:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the discussion on President's address in Lok Sabha in New Delhi. (PTI photo)

NGOs working in various development sectors rubbished the report and said they had all the government clearances.

Editorial: NGOs can do little economic damage

The letters were sent on June 3 and 5 by Nripendra Misra, principal secretary to PM Narendra Modi, to all the secretaries heading various central ministries. The first letter, issued on June 3, merely sought details of all autonomous bodies and NGOs working with the ministries.

"This is for the first time that the PMO has sought such information. Ministries have been asked to give details of all autonomous bodies working under them, what is their function etc," said a senior government official who requested anonymity. "The PMO has also sought information on NGOs working with ministries such as when were they appointed and details of projects they are working on. We were just told that the PMO wanted to update its database."

Read: NGOs stance on several development projects to hit economic growth, says IB

Misra did not respond to a detailed email sent by HT. A separate email sent to Neelam Kapur, principal director general, Press Information Bureau also did not get a response.

The second letter issued on June 5 is much more detailed and seeks extensive details about the NGOs and the projects in which they are partnering with the ministries. It seeks details of the NGO, its affiliations, people on its board, foreigners working with it and details of their employment and visa, as well as Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) clearance.

FCRA clearance is a must for all NGOs to get foreign funding. This helps the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) monitor NGO funding and check antecedents of the international donors.

"We have only seen the reports about the IB report on the NGOs and we can assume that the letters issued to the ministries is a follow-up. However, the letter does not specify why this information is sought," a secretary confirmed to HT on the condition of anonymity.

It has been reported that a detailed report, prepared by SA Rizvi, joint director in the IB, was sent to the PMO. It alleged that NGOs like Greenpeace had been "stalling development projects". Greenpeace, an international NGO which works on environment issues, has rejected the allegations in the report.

Read: Greenpeace rejects IB report, swears by energy sustainability

The IB report also states that several Gujarat-based NGOs campaigned against the government. It reportedly says that organisations like Maldhari Rural Action Group, People's Union of Civil Liberties, and others had been protesting against the government.

"Some of the ministries that have a large component of social development, like human resources development, women and child development and rural development will have many NGOs partnering them in their welfare schemes," another senior government official told HT. Several NGOs have already said they were worried about the intentions of the government.

NGOs under govt scanner following IB warning - Hindustan Times

 

[santosh10]

Activists bristle as India cracks down on foreign funding of NGOs
May 19, 2013

Amid an intensifying crackdown on nongovernmental groups that receive foreign funding, Indian activists are accusing the government of stifling their right to dissent in the world's largest democracy.

India has tightened the rules on nongovernmental organizations over the past two years, following protests that delayed several important industrial projects. About a dozen NGOs that the government said engaged in activities that harm the public interest have seen their permission to receive foreign donations revoked, as have nearly 4,000 small NGOs for what officials said was inadequate compliance with reporting requirements.

The government stepped up its campaign this month, suspending the permission that Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), a network of more than 700 NGOs across India, had to receive foreign funds. Groups in the network campaign for indigenous peoples' rights over their mineral-rich land and against nuclear energy, human rights violations and religious fundamentalism; nearly 90 percent of the network's funding comes from overseas. :ranger:

"The government's action is aimed at curbing our democratic right to dissent and disagree," Anil Chaudhary, who heads an NGO that trains activists and is part of the INSAF network, said Tuesday. "We dared to challenge the government's new foreign donation rules in the court. We opposed nuclear energy, we campaigned against genetically modified food. We have spoiled the sleep of our prime minister."

In its letter to INSAF, the Home Ministry said the group's bank accounts were frozen and foreign funding approval suspended because it was likely to "prejudicially affect the public interest."

A government official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, said the government is not against criticism. But when an NGO uses foreign donations to criticize Indian policies, "things get complicated, and you never know what the plot is," the official said, adding that NGOs should use foreign donations to do development work instead.

The United States is the top donor nation to Indian NGOs, followed by Britain and Germany, according to figures compiled by the Indian government, with Indian NGOs receiving funds from both the U.S. government and private U.S. institutions. In the year ending in March 2011, the most recent period for which data are available, about 22,000 NGOs received a total of more than $2 billion from abroad, of which $650 million came from the United States.

Asked last week about the Indian government's moves against foreign-funded NGOs, a U.S. State Department spokesman said the department was not aware of any U.S. government involvement in the cases. The spokesman said such civil society groups around the world "are among the essential building blocks of any healthy democracy."

The situation in India is not unlike the problems that similar groups face in Russia, where a law passed last year requires foreign-funded NGOs that engage in loosely defined political activities to register as "foreign agents."

Action after nuclear protests

Trouble for many nonprofit activist groups here began more than a year ago when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh blamed groups from the United States for fomenting -anti-nuclear protests that have stalled the commissioning of India's biggest reactor, a Russian-backed project in Koodankulam in power-starved Tamil Nadu state.

U.S. officials, including Peter Burleigh, the American ambassador at the time, quickly moved to assure Indian officials that the U.S. government supports India's civil nuclear power program. And Victoria Nuland, then the State Department spokeswoman, said the United States does not provide support for nonprofit groups to protest nuclear power plants. "Our NGO support goes for development, and it goes for democracy programs," Nuland said. :ranger:

Although Singh was widely criticized for his fears, the government froze the accounts of several NGOs in southern India within weeks.

"All our work has come to a stop," said Henri Tiphagne, head of a human rights group called People's Watch. "I had visited [the] Koodankulam protest site once. Is that a banned territory?"

But the government's action appears to have had its desired effect. "NGOs are too scared to visit Koodankulam or associate with us now," said anti-nuclear activist S. P. Udayakumar.

Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said many NGOs are afraid to speak up about the suspension of their foreign funding approval, which is "being used to intimidate organizations and activists."

Analysts say the government's way of dealing with dissent is a throwback to an earlier era. But Indian authorities have been particularly squeamish about criticism of late. As citizens have protested corruption and sexual assaults on women and demanded greater accountability from public officials, authorities have often reacted clumsily — including beating up peaceful protesters and cracking down on satirical cartoons, Facebook posts and Twitter accounts.

Donors look elsewhere

Officials say NGOs are free to use Indian money for their protests. But activists say Indian money is hard to find, with many Indians preferring to donate to charities.

A recent report by Bain & Co. said that about two-thirds of Indian donors surveyed said that NGOs have room to improve the impact they are making in the lives of beneficiaries. It said that a quarter of donors are holding back on increased donations until they perceive evidence that their donations are having an effect.

"They give blankets to the homeless, sponsor poor children or support cow shelters," said Wilfred Dcosta, coordinator of INSAF. "They do not want to support causes where you question the state, demand environmental justice or fight for the land rights of tribal people pitted against mighty mining companies."

INSAF, whose acronym means "justice" in Urdu, has seen its portion of foreign funding increase significantly during the past 15 years. Now it receives funds from many international groups, including the American Jewish World Service and Global Greengrants Fund in the United States, and groups in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

The top American donors to Indian NGOs include Colorado-based Compassion International, District-based Population Services International and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

"It is not a question about money, it is a fight for our right to dissent," said Chaudhary. :thumb: "I don't need dollars to block a road."

Activists bristle as India cracks down on foreign funding of NGOs - The Washington Post


=> Indian law on foreign funds to NGOs worries UN body

Read more at: Indian law on foreign funds to NGOs worries UN body | Firstpost

In what is perhaps the first international reaction to the Indian government's heightened scrutiny of NGOs receiving foreign funds, the United Nations Special Rapporteur Margaret Sekaggya has in a report presented at the ongoing session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva expressed concern about the new regime introduced by Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010.

The more stringent FCRA, 2010, which replaced the FCRA of 1976, came into force on 1 May 2011.

In her report (presented on 5 March) on the situation of human rights defenders in India, Sekaggya has observed that some of the provisions of the new Act "may lead to abuse by the authorities when reviewing applications of organisations which were critical of authorities".

The statement by the Special Rapporteur gains significance, coming at a time when the Home Ministry has been turning up the heat on foreign-funded NGOs and the Prime Minister himself only a few weeks ago pointed fingers at US-based NGOs for fuelling the anti-nuclear protests at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu.

Incidentally, among those who spoke at the session after the Special Rapporteur presented her report, was Henri Tiphagne, executive director of People's Watch, a Madurai-based human rights organisation, which was sent a notice by the FCRA wing of the Home Ministry in early February.

In his oral statement at the UN, Tiphagne raised the issue of government action on NGOs in Tamil Nadu.

"In recent weeks, NGOs in Tamil Nadu have been targeted on allegations of opposing the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, presenting an example of abuse of this law with any due process adhered to." Read full statement here.

Tiphagne, just back from Geneva and on a short visit to Delhi, spoke to Firstpost about the significance of the UN Special Rapporteur's statement.

"The effort here is to see that procedures that are put in place for the scrutiny of NGOs are transparent and accountable. It is not to say that government should not use FCRA. After all, when we are asking for accountability from the government, from the corporates, accountability of NGOs is also welcome.

"But take the example of the recent notices from the Home Ministry to NGOs in Tamil Nadu. They make no mention of Kudankulam, of diverting funds, of fuelling protests. By simply citing 'prejudicially affecting public interest', you are stopping funding. This amounts to gagging. The government has to show cause that the NGO is diverting funds or that answers provided by the NGOs are not satisfactory."

Tiphagne, an advocate, says that the FCRA has in the past been an Act that has not been properly implemented.

"That is the government's own fault. Now, this legislation which is supposed to improve standards of accounting is being used to clamp down on NGOs that are expressing dissent. And the government is trying to link that dissent with organisations that are receiving foreign funds. You are doing complete injustice to the poor with this of justification. To thwart dissent by saying it is being fuelled by another country is the wrong approach."

The government in its response to the Special Rapporteur's report, while conceding that some of the provisions of the public security laws and the FCR Act "may be abused by authorities involved, in the execution of such laws", has given assurance that "we are conscious of the need to ensure accountability of the law enforcement officials and have taken due note of her concerns".

The Special Rapporteur visited India in January last year, during which she met over 350 human rights groups, top bureaucrats and police officers, members of the human rights commissions, judges from the Delhi High Court, members of the diplomatic community and members of the UN agencies in Delhi, Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Jammu and Srinagar.

Indian law on foreign funds to NGOs worries UN body - Firstpost

 

[santosh10]

@Ray @W.G.Ewald @Peter @jouni

with response to the above news, stating foreign funded NGOs seeking "JUSTICE" for the common Indian citizens. here, why don't they fight for 'justice' for the US's civilians as below too? or, do they want to do the same in India also?

While the United States represents about 5 percent of the world's population, it houses around 25 percent of the world's prisoners.[3][4] Imprisonment of America's 2.3 million prisoners, costing $24,000 per inmate per year, and $5.1 billion in new prison construction, consumes $60.3 billion in budget expenditures.

United States incarceration rate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[santosh10]

Foreign funded NGOs: Who finances them and why

Non-governmental organisations are always a flashpoint for bitter debate. Where some see good samaritans working for change, others detect a foreign conspiracy to manipulate domestic politics.

A new investigative piece in Open magazine offers a balanced look at some of the leading NGOs, their foreign funders, and raises some key questions. [Read it in its entirety here]

As Firstpost senior editor Pramod Kumar pointed out previously, there is little difference between a "lobbyist" and "policy advocate," other than one promotes the interest of private companies while the other peddles influence on behalf of an NGO. And the sums of foreign money entering India in the name of "advocacy" are not small change:

However, there is no reliable estimate of the money flowing into the NGOs and what they do with it. According to an Indian Express report in 2010, India had about 3.3 million NGOs by the end of 2009, an NGO for every 400 people. The amount of money flowing into the NGO sector is anybody's guess. The Indian Express report said it was anywhere between Rs 40,000 and Rs 80,000 crore a year. Eighty thousand crore rupees is nearly half of West Bengal government's debt or half of Kerala's gross state domestic product (GSDP). By no means is this small. Reportedly, Delhi-based NGOs received Rs 5,800 crores, the highest in the country, followed by TN, which received Rs 4,800 crore.

The Open magazine report breaks down some of these big-picture numbers to offer specific information about big-league NGOs and their foreign funding. And in doing so it points to the "hypocrisy" of the UPA government decision to freeze the bank accounts of anti-Kudankulam groups -- on the grounds that they represent foreign interests -- while it continues to patronise other NGOs that are no less flush in outside funding.

One example is the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), "currently headed by Dr Isher Judge Ahluwalia, wife of Planning Commission Vice-chairperson Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia." The Council "has received over Rs 11.5 crore in foreign donations from a range of international institutions such as the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Sasakawa Peace Foundation between 2007 and 2012." :ranger:

Another prominent and influential organisation is the Centre for Policy Research, headed by Dr Pratap Bhanu Mehta which received Rs 40.8 crore from a range of foreign donors, including the Ford Foundation, Google Foundation, International Development Research Centre, Economic and Social Research Council, Hewlett Foundation and IKEA Social Initiative. (Read the article to get the scoop on many others, including Vandana Shiva's organization, Navdanya) :ranger:

Foreign funding becomes all the more critical in an environment where there is increasing pressure on NGOs to demonstrate policy impact, as Pramod Kumar explains: Gone are the days of those small poverty projects in your neighbourhood slums or coastal villages. The aim is now to get real big bang for the buck. Fund one activist and his/her NGO and get a bill passed in the parliament; fund a cleric and create an environment of religious disharmony and band of radical youth; or spend a few thousand dollars and get a $3 billion dollar national facility stalled.

Within this context, the lack of transparency becomes a cause for genuine concern. Open magazine's Prashant Reddy writes:

An amusing facet of this is that the Central Government and Corporate India are more transparent (even if forced to be) than these civil society institutions, thanks to the Right to Information Act, 2005, and the extensive disclosure requirements under the Companies Act, 1956. Of companies in particular, information is accessible over the internet on the MCA21 website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. This contrast is amusing because some of these thinktanks never tire of demanding transparency of the State and corporate sector.

This isn't to say that NGOs are no more than shells for that ubiquitous "foreign hands" or to deny that foreign foundations fund important social change intitiatives, or to claim that any attempt to shape policy -- say to promote environmental protection or public health -- is necessarily bad. And there is the unpleasant fact that Indian philanthropy remains at a dismal low -- and the Azim Premjis rare -- making it unlikely that we can expect our made-in-India donors to make up the gap if all foreign funding were to be unilaterally banned.

But if NGOs -- foreign funded or otherwise -- want to have a voice in shaping the national debate, then we the public have the right to know who they are speaking for.

Foreign funded NGOs: Who finances them and why - Firstpost

 

[santosh10]

and Im among the Indians, who always sideline with Russia for the following reasons :tup:

=>
Russia's Multipolar World Vs US's World Government

Efforts to Establish a "BALANCE" in world

Further to the above discussion, today i was making a clear difference between my side with Russia, against the US's World Government, which wants to rule the world, but it doesn't share the "Equal Voting Rights" with those rest of the world including Indians, on whom the leaders of those 310million US's civilians want to 'Rule'......

the government of US, backed by EU, want to form that World Government which doesn't have "equal" voting rights with Indians in their parliamentary election, but they want to have every interference in India, to serve those US's civilians who have their leaders like Mr B.Obama......

and at the same time we have Russia on the other side, which favor Multi-Polar World, and support India and China both. we find Indian members making noise when Russia is going to sell its best Su35 aircraft to China, while the same type of noise we hear from Chinese members also when Russia not only sell its best arms to India, but it also comes with full technology transfer to India.........

and its all about dealing with two sides of politics of world. one about the US's World Government, which doesn't share "equal" voting rights in their general election by rest of the world like India, while the Russia on other side which favor 'equal' rights for Every Government on the world platform......

and one day i also reminded that, even if China and Vietnam have conflicts on oil search, then its not because Chinese communists are trying for their own pockets while Indians are trying for the democratic people of whole world. but whether China or Vietnam+India, both of these groups are trying to secure best stake in that area for good of their own people, who elected their leaders in these 3 countries to secure common interests of the people belonging to their countries.........

Neither US itself will share its Oil/Gas/Mineral resources with Indian Tax Payers, nor US's Tax Payers will share subsidy burden of Indian Middle Class, which provides hefty subsidy for the people below poverty line in India. and its equally foolish to think that US's Tax Payers would share any Infrastructure spending in India, to reduce its burden from the Indian Tax Payers. If a country is good, have better infrastructure/more resources etc, it will benefit only the people based in that certain country, whether India or US..... :ranger:

here, i also remember my one talk with few senior Russians in Sydney, when one senior once said that, "we would learn Chinese language, Mandarin, now." and i asked with surprise, "Chinese language?" and he said, "yes Chinese." and it again gave me a straight meaning from my Chinese friends from Malaysia+Singapore, that, "English is sign of our colonization..."

and yes, neither English is home language of India nor US Dollar is Indian currency, but if we may have Yuan as a world currency and Mandarin as a world language for the next 20 years, say, then it will definitely help us to maintain a "BALANCE" in this world, which is quite important :thumb:

=> IIMs' tryst with Chinese: Mandarin emerges as popular course at B-schools - Economic Times

=>

According to the notice dated April 26, the group receives foreign funding and participates in "political activities" through carrying out projects aimed at "overcoming totalitarian stereotypes by influencing public opinion with awareness-raising activities, facilitating the establishment of the rule of law by informing citizens about constitutional norms, ensuring the priority of individual rights in state practices and public life by remembrance of terror victims in the past and defending the rights of citizens in the present, as well as countering violent, unlawful, totalitarian ways of ruling the state by organizing public events (rallies, exhibitions, etc.)."

http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/08/29/...law-hits-hundreds-ngos-updated-august-29-2014

the above statement of the article is fit with my experience too. those who want to interfere in India believe,

"if they may buy General Manager of a firm, then they have got the whole firm this way."

"if you may buy those who have influence on the society, then you may control the whole society somehow/ someway."

"to handle Fate of the people of a country, if you may buy all those people who own high positions/ have proper influence on the society then this way you have got a level of control on that certain country this way."

and hence, i have made my above post in this thread, with demanding, "only those can handle fate of a society/ country, who are elected by that certain society. hence, until Mr B.Obama ensures 'equal' voting rights for the common Indian citizens in the general election of USA, he can't interfere in the internal matters of India."

 

[pmaitra]

. . .

INSAF, whose acronym means "justice" in Urdu, has seen its portion of foreign funding increase significantly during the past 15 years. Now it receives funds from many international groups, including the American Jewish World Service and Global Greengrants Fund in the United States, and groups in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

The top American donors to Indian NGOs include Colorado-based Compassion International, District-based Population Services International and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

"It is not a question about money, it is a fight for our right to dissent," said Chaudhary. :thumb: "I don't need dollars to block a road."

Activists bristle as India cracks down on foreign funding of NGOs - The Washington Post

If they don't need dollars to block a road, why are they complaining when NGOs' foreign funding is blocked?

These western media said the same thing when Putin booted out British NGOs from Russia.

Attn: @Razor, @AVERAGE INDIAN, @Ray Sir, @sgarg, and those that is missed.

 

[santosh10]

If they don't need dollars to block a road, why are they complaining when NGOs' foreign funding is blocked?

These western media said the same thing when Putin booted out British NGOs from Russia.

Attn: @Razor, @AVERAGE INDIAN, @Ray Sir, @sgarg, and those that is missed.

Foreign funded NGOs in China = zero

@Ray

there is a difference between foreign policy of India and China. their foreign policy is based on going on the front of key geo-political issues, on what India keeps itself on the defensive position.

there is a way how foreign policy of a country is 'designed', and Indian foreign policy has never been to go on the front of key players, mainly P5s, who have Veto power in UNSC, along with full recognition for nuclear holding too. and yes, china is among those P5s too :ranger:

there is a certain way to handle key issues, and i think position of Indian side to work with NGOs, isn't a bad option until they understand the issues behind :thumb:

its a simple case that once your receive salary from the Bosses sitting outside India, who doesn't fall on the Indian laws, you suddenly find yourself in the category of foreign agents, 'if' you do any act which is meant to challenge the 'state' of India or any other developing country. for example of my last post#2, sometimes they even fight against the 'justice system' of India too

and until NGOs understand their acts/ limits, its manageable to an extent :thumb:

 

[santosh10]

very few NGOs are genuine. almost all of them are politically or foreign funded. it is important to keep a tab on them so good work by govt.

'greenpeace' has recently published a report for damaging the tea industry of india by stating that indian tea can cause cancer bcoz it contains remains of pesticides in it. they used foreign labs of western countries to conduct tests of sample.
good work greenpeace just do all the shit u can do in the name of NGO.

and thats what i said in my last post too, once you work for the bosses sitting overseas, you work for a person/organization whose 'identity' is different, having all the shiits of black-white, religious difference, cultural difference, language difference etc, and they generally try to find out, why they are right with what they think about a developing country like India. and the worse part of this approach is, your boss, guiding you, doesn't fall on the laws of that certain developing country like India, while ordering anything from outside, while paying salaries to these NGOs in India type countries

 

[santosh10]

and here, its worth posting the news as below here too, i think :ranger:

=>

As 'Foreign Agent' Law Takes Effect in Russia, Human Rights Groups Vow to Defy It
By ELLEN BARRY

MOSCOW — Workers at the human rights organization Memorial arrived at work on Wednesday morning to see a phrase spray-painted across their office building: "FOREIGN AGENT." Vandals scrawled the same words in giant, sloppy white letters across the door of For Human Rights, which represents citizens in disputes with the Russian police or prosecutors. :ranger:

The phrase, which to Russians evokes treachery and cold war espionage, was repeated many times on Wednesday, when a new law came into force requiring nonprofit groups that receive financing from outside Russiato identify themselves as "foreign agents."

The law was hurriedly passed two months after the inauguration of President Vladimir V. Putin, who has accused foreign governments of provoking the large anti-Kremlin demonstrations that began here last winter. The law has been accompanied by other measures discouraging interaction with foreigners, like expanding the legal definition of treason to include "providing financial, technical, advisory or other assistance to a foreign state or international organization."

Many groups like Memorial and For Human Rights have decided to defy the new law, despite the threat of fines, a forced shutdown or, if prosecutors choose to pursue a criminal charge, a prison sentence of up to two years. Oleg P. Orlov, Memorial's chairman, said that accepting the "foreign agent" label would so undermine public trust that rights advocates would no longer be able to carry out work like monitoring prison conditions or researching disappearances in the restive North Caucasus.

"A foreign agent equals a traitor, a betrayer of the homeland," he said. Groups that comply, he added, "will be outcasts in this society. They will be branded. The public will look at them with suspicion, and officials will simply refuse to associate with them. They will be outcasts." :ranger:

It is unclear how the Russian authorities will enforce the vaguely worded law, which will be overseen by the Justice Ministry. The requirement applies only to organizations engaged in "political activities," like trying to influence public opinion or advocating to change policy. Various groups say they are poised to contest any penalties through the court system, in part to test the constitutionality of the new law.

"We will risk a fine, and it's possible that a question of a criminal charge will arise," said Pavel Chikov, who heads a legal organization, Agora. "But if we are forced to choose between ceasing our work and risking a criminal investigation, I will choose the latter."

Government officials spoke approvingly of the new law, saying foreign money must be excluded from politics in order to defend Russia's sovereignty. :thumb:

Western-financed programs proliferated during the 1990s, when Russia's economy and political system were a shambles and foreign governments hoped to help guide the development of a post-Soviet state. Mr. Putin intends to uproot the vestiges of those projects, which he believes have undermined support for him in Russia.

A particular grievance is the United States-funded election monitoring group Golos, which documented and publicized voter fraud ahead of last year's parliamentary elections, adding fuel to the burst of protest. In September, Russia announced the end of two decades of work by the United States Agency for International Development.

Veronika Krasheninnikova, the head of the Institute for Foreign Policy Research and Initiatives, in Moscow, said that she believed Washington had advised Russia's nonprofit groups to defy the new law, forcing the Russian government to take harsh measures.

"Confrontation will be beneficial for these organizations," she said, during a Wednesday round table on the new law. She added: "We will be told, 'Look how much you lose in the eyes of the world.' If we are afraid of the West, it would be better to give up right now, to surrender, put on white ribbons and white flags and announce capitulation."

Referring to the pro-American president of Georgia, she added, "All normal people know that if Washington praises you and holds you up as an example, it means that you have turned into a Saakashvili and betrayed your country."

Among those poised for a prolonged standoff with the authorities is Lyudmila Alexeyeva, 85, a Soviet-era dissident who heads the Moscow Helsinki Group. Ms. Alexeyeva said she was ready to go to great lengths to avoid being affected by the law.

She said she will refuse any further foreign financing for the Helsinki Group and, if necessary, sell her collection of ceramic figurines to raise money and move the entire organization into her apartment.

"A law like this is just not going to work," she said. "I am an old person. I was 25 years old when Stalin died, and I spent my childhood and youth in a totalitarian state."

She added that Russia has changed greatly since then. "Stalin, in order to create a totalitarian state, brought down an iron curtain around the country. And we've just joined the World Trade Organization," she said. "So why did we join the World Trade Organization? How are we going to be able to fence ourselves off in a globalized world? No, Putin was born too late." :ranger:

A version of this article appeared in print on November 22, 2012, on page A8 of the New York edition with the headline: As 'Foreign Agent' Law Takes Effect in Russia, Human Rights Groups Vow to Defy It.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/22/w...-russia-reject-foreign-agent-label.html?_r=1&

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/22/w...-russia-reject-foreign-agent-label.html?_r=1&

 

[AVERAGE INDIAN]

If they don't need dollars to block a road, why are they complaining when NGOs' foreign funding is blocked?

These western media said the same thing when Putin booted out British NGOs from Russia.

Attn: @Razor, @AVERAGE INDIAN, @Ray Sir, @sgarg, and those that is missed.

it is a well know fact that these high profile NGOs get funding with a vested motive. They sit in 5 star hotels to discuss climate change and social service. It is run like a pure business, which does raise a question about them not paying taxes, making money and often working against businesses. First this should be investigated , second there should be tax rebate on foreign donation and finally they should come under RTI. Why are they protesting on only specific issues. Opposing only Indian IT companies in Bangalore . Opposing Indian coal, hydel companies. Opposing only non American nuclear companies but not GE and big German solar giants. What is their intention for India to shut down all coal, hydel and non American nuclear plants. They stalled Tamilnadu nuclear plant. Maharashtra Nuclear project funded by France is completely stalled by western funded NGO. Focusing on Women problems in Kashmir and North east but not UP, Bihar, MP or rest of India. NGOs thrive in the governance vacuum. When NGOs say they are fighting for the inclusion of the marginalized, they are actually seeking a share of the spoils of crony capitalism. Activism is one thing, holding the state to ransom is an altogether different and dangerous avocation.

 

[Ray]

NGOs do help and that is true.

However, no one gives money just for a lark.

There is always an agenda. Even foreign aid by Nations have overt and covert strings attached, even if they appear to be altruistic.

While one can understand a Nation's intentions, it is very difficult to know the hidden agenda of foreign funding to NGOs.

Therefore, monitoring and checks on foreign funding is but a national necessity.

 

[DingDong]

Actually it will be better if we allow some of these NGOs to function and keep a close watch, will help us in identifying the Mir Zafars who might go underground and find better ways of hurting us, otherwise. I had visited the social pages of the US consulate staff (Wayne May and Alicia May) who were booted out by India during Khobragade episode, I could find many "educated" Indians sucking up to them.

There are indications of CIA's involvement in West Bengal blasts if you trust this news:

 

[Ray]

Kolkata has a huge population of Urdu-speaking Muslims who usually support fundamentalists and take part in anti-Bangladesh tirades as witnessed in their rallies against the war crimes trials in Bangladesh, which has great support in West Bengal amongst Bengali Hindus and Muslims alike.
http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2014/09/03/major-us-operation-to-oust-hasina

This is true.

It surprised me too!

When India helped liberate Bangladesh, how come some people were supporting the damned razaakars, who were pro Pakistan and who helped the Pak Army to massacre Muslim Bengalis in East Pakistan?

And the fool Bengal Govt sat on its haunches?

 

[santosh10]

NGOs do help and that is true.

However, no one gives money just for a lark.

There is always an agenda. Even foreign aid by Nations have overt and covert strings attached, even if they appear to be altruistic.

While one can understand a Nation's intentions, it is very difficult to know the hidden agenda of foreign funding to NGOs.

Therefore, monitoring and checks on foreign funding is but a national necessity.

@DingDong

An Illegal Iraq War

fought by the democratic countries with over 50%+ vote for their leaders to do so in other countries

Iraq war was illegal and breached UN charter, says Annan | World news | The Guardian

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iraq war illegal, says Annan

sir, first we face bluffs of democracy behind legalizing activities of these NGOs in the developing countries like India. for example, India is a developing country so all the democratic countries are allowed to do whatever they want to do here, whether right or wrong

you can't make right to wrong and wrong to right, even if leaders of Western Countries may prove over 50% vote in their democratic elections to do so in other countries.

and here i prepared the post#5, which confirm that until you share 'vote' of a certain country, its not your 'state'. and without falling on the laws of India, funding any activities through these NGOs, while sitting outside this country, simply means for doing wrong in developing countries like India. no more bluffs of democracy in this regard

i just saw a statement of Mr T.Blair on facebook about winning 50% vote in a democratic country, and hence a leader of US/UK is right if they do something in other states of world. but we again find Mr T.Blair, Mr G.Bush, Mr J.Howard charged with War Crimes during Iraq War, a formally recognized "Illegal" war by UN, led by Mr K.Anna that time, even if Mr T.Blair secured over 50% in UK's democratic election to fight that Iraq war......

something which is right for the voters of UK/US, doesn't mean that its right for the voters of other countries too. and even if they have over 50% vote in their election for a war like Iraq War during the time Mr T.Blair, its was an illegal attempt, recognized by UN itself that year :ranger:

and its just an example to confirm, "being a democratic country, can't allow any OECD economy to fund these NGOs, which may challenge the state of India or any other developing country" :thumb:

Iraq war was illegal and breached UN charter, says Annan | World news | The Guardian

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iraq war illegal, says Annan

 

[santosh10]

India witnessing NGO boom, there is 1 for every 600 people
Feb 23, 2014

NEW DELHI: For a country which till recently had a weak civil society movement, India is now witnessing a boom in the NGO sector. With a population of 1.2 billion, the country could well be the land of opportunities for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with the Central Bureau of Investigation conservatively estimating 20 lakh of them already operating in states and union territories.

The mind-boggling figures boil down to one NGO per every 600 people. Compare this to the latest government data on police. According to the latest figures from the Union home ministry, India has just one policeman for every 943 people.


But there is an accountability deficit among the NGOs. And that's how CBI got into the picture as the Supreme Court responded to a PIL. Many don't submit details of receipt of grant and spending to income tax authorities, the CBI told the apex court.

On the SC's order, the CBI sought information from the states and UTs about operation of NGOs and status of audit of their funds. Major states — Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh — have provided no data about the number of NGOs operating in their territory.

Without the statistics from these major states, the CBI was informed by other states about the existence of 13 lakh NGOs making the agency conservatively estimate that their number could go well be over 20 lakh. In Uttar Pradesh alone 5,48,194 NGOs are operating. :ranger:

Kerala had 3,69,137 NGOs, Maharashtra 1,07,797, Madhya Pradesh 1,40,000 and Gujarat has 75,729 NGOs. While Kerala and Maharashtra have given details of finances of the NGOs operating in their area, Madhya Pradesh gave partial information about their funding. Gujarat was completely silent.

According to information received through RTI queries by Asian Centre for Human Rights, the Union and state governments between 2002-09 released Rs 6654 crore to various NGOs, averaging almost Rs 950 crore per year.

For the financial year 2010-11, available data show that about 22,000 NGOs received a total of more than $2 billion from abroad, of which $650 million came from the US.
:balle:

On a PIL filed by advocate M L Sharma alleging misuse of funds by Anna Hazare's NGO Hind Swaraj Trust (HST), a bench headed by Justice H L Dattu had last year asked additional solicitor general SidharthLuthra to engage the CBI to find out details of the funding of NGOs across the country and whether these were filing their income tax returns.

From the information made available by the state governments and presented in tabular form by the CBI to the Supreme Court, it was apparent that most NGOs had not filed income tax returns regularly.

Responding to Sharma's PIL alleging that large amounts of government funds were being doled out without taking proper account of utilization of grants by NGOs, Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology (Capart) in an affidavit denied any wrongdoing by HST and annexed an audited account for the utilization of Rs 1 lakh.

Capart had given a grant of Rs 1 lakh to Hazare-led HST for watershed development in three villages in 1999-2001,but more than 90% of the money was spent on honorarium, travelling, printing and stationery, the Supreme Court was told.

In two years, the trust spent Rs 63,243 on paying honorarium, Rs 20,347.50 was accounted towards travel expenses and Rs 6,487.50 was spent on printing and stationery. This means, of the Rs 1 lakh granted for watershed development in three villages, the trust spent Rs 90,078 on honorarium, travelling and printing and stationery.

Capart functions under the ministry of rural development and assists over 12,000 voluntary organizations across the country in implementing a wide range of development initiatives.

India witnessing NGO boom, there is 1 for every 600 people - The Times of India

 

[santosh10]

I had visited the social pages of the US consulate staff (Wayne May and Alicia May) who were booted out by India during Khobragade episode, I could find many "educated" Indians sucking up to them. :ranger:

it is a well know fact that these high profile NGOs get funding with a vested motive. They sit in 5 star hotels to discuss climate change and social service. :ranger:

@Ray

as in the article of my last post#15, $2.0billion+ inflow for these NGOs is a pretty good money. it would more than defence budget of more than half of the countries of world? i guess.....

here, how much India put for internal security, just asking? as, we find number of police is less than the numbers of NGOs, as in the article of last post itself :ranger:

The mind-boggling figures boil down to one NGO per every 600 people. Compare this to the latest government data on police. According to the latest figures from the Union home ministry, India has just one policeman for every 943 people.

For the financial year 2010-11, available data show that about 22,000 NGOs received a total of more than $2 billion from abroad, of which $650 million came from the US.

India witnessing NGO boom, there is 1 for every 600 people - The Times of India

 

[santosh10]

double post

 

[santosh10]

and Im among the Indians, who always sideline with Russia for the following reasons :tup:

=>
Russia's Multipolar World Vs US's World Government

Efforts to Establish a "BALANCE" in world

Further to the above discussion, today i was making a clear difference between my side with Russia, against the US's World Government, which wants to rule the world, but it doesn't share the "Equal Voting Rights" with those rest of the world including Indians, on whom the leaders of those 310million US's civilians want to 'Rule'......

the government of US, backed by EU, want to form that World Government which doesn't have "equal" voting rights with Indians in their parliamentary election, but they want to have every interference in India, to serve those US's civilians who have their leaders like Mr B.Obama......

and at the same time we have Russia on the other side, which favor Multi-Polar World, and support India and China both. we find Indian members making noise when Russia is going to sell its best Su35 aircraft to China, while the same type of noise we hear from Chinese members also when Russia not only sell its best arms to India, but it also comes with full technology transfer to India.........

and its all about dealing with two sides of politics of world. one about the US's World Government, which doesn't share "equal" voting rights in their general election by rest of the world like India, while the Russia on other side which favor 'equal' rights for Every Government on the world platform......

and one day i also reminded that, even if China and Vietnam have conflicts on oil search, then its not because Chinese communists are trying for their own pockets while Indians are trying for the democratic people of whole world. but whether China or Vietnam+India, both of these groups are trying to secure best stake in that area for good of their own people, who elected their leaders in these 3 countries to secure common interests of the people belonging to their countries.........

Neither US itself will share its Oil/Gas/Mineral resources with Indian Tax Payers, nor US's Tax Payers will share subsidy burden of Indian Middle Class, which provides hefty subsidy for the people below poverty line in India. and its equally foolish to think that US's Tax Payers would share any Infrastructure spending in India, to reduce its burden from the Indian Tax Payers. If a country is good, have better infrastructure/more resources etc, it will benefit only the people based in that certain country, whether India or US..... :ranger:

here, i also remember my one talk with few senior Russians in Sydney, when one senior once said that, "we would learn Chinese language, Mandarin, now." and i asked with surprise, "Chinese language?" and he said, "yes Chinese." and it again gave me a straight meaning from my Chinese friends from Malaysia+Singapore, that, "English is sign of our colonization..."

and yes, neither English is home language of India nor US Dollar is Indian currency, but if we may have Yuan as a world currency and Mandarin as a world language for the next 20 years, say, then it will definitely help us to maintain a "BALANCE" in this world, which is quite important :thumb:

=> IIMs' tryst with Chinese: Mandarin emerges as popular course at B-schools - Economic Times

=>

According to the notice dated April 26, the group receives foreign funding and participates in "political activities" through carrying out projects aimed at "overcoming totalitarian stereotypes by influencing public opinion with awareness-raising activities, facilitating the establishment of the rule of law by informing citizens about constitutional norms, ensuring the priority of individual rights in state practices and public life by remembrance of terror victims in the past and defending the rights of citizens in the present, as well as countering violent, unlawful, totalitarian ways of ruling the state by organizing public events (rallies, exhibitions, etc.)."

http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/08/29/...law-hits-hundreds-ngos-updated-august-29-2014

the above statement of the article is fit with my experience too. those who want to interfere in India believe,

"if they may buy General Manager of a firm, then they have got the whole firm this way."

"if you may buy those who have influence on the society, then you may control the whole society somehow/ someway."

"to handle Fate of the people of a country, if you may buy all those people who own high positions/ have proper influence on the society then this way you have got a level of control on that certain country this way."

and hence, i have made my above post in this thread, with demanding, "only those can handle fate of a society/ country, who are elected by that certain society. hence, until Mr B.Obama ensures 'equal' voting rights for the common Indian citizens in the general election of USA, he can't interfere in the internal matters of India."

Further to the above post, i think my post as below may have a place here too :thumb:

US's Gun Point Democracy

and this is what i discussed with my American and British friends both, "having 50%+ voting in UK/US parliament doesn't mean that you may interfere in those states of world like India where you don't share 'equal' voting right."

and then things become more serious when we find them having "Gun Point Democracy", to do whatever they want to do in other countries, just because they have 50%+ votes for their leaders in US's/UK's election, to do so in other parts of the world who don't have "equal" voting right for their civilians in American/British parliamentary election.

how democracy is discussed without "Freedom of Speech"? how this "Gun Point Democracy" is justified this way?

 

[santosh10]

double post

 

[santosh10]

Actually it will be better if we allow some of these NGOs to function and keep a close watch, will help us in identifying the Mir Zafars who might go underground and find better ways of hurting us, otherwise.

NGOs do help and that is true.

However, no one gives money just for a lark.

There is always an agenda. Even foreign aid by Nations have overt and covert strings attached, even if they appear to be altruistic.

While one can understand a Nation's intentions, it is very difficult to know the hidden agenda of foreign funding to NGOs.

Therefore, monitoring and checks on foreign funding is but a national necessity.

sir, these NGOs work as per the orders they receive from their bosses based in foreign nations, and then you want it to be "easy" to understand their agenda?

along with the news of post#9 where they are openly declared as "foreign agents" by the judiciary of Russia itself, we have news about another country as below too, Egypt, a NATO ally itself. here you may see how tough their agendas might be? :ranger:

US interference in Egypt's internal affairs
29 August 2013

Egypt is exposed to continuous attacks by US political leaders and by America's Christian-Zionist controlled media. US and foreign media are intensifying their attacks in an attempt to influence Egyptian decision making. This can only be described as blatant interference in the internal affairs of Egypt.

Since the June 30 revolution, foreign media have intensified their attacks on Egypt ignoring the will of the free Egyptian people. In the midst of these attacks against Egypt, I read a New York Times article which attacked an Egyptian law dealing with non-governmental organizations.:ranger: The article described the law as a step backward in a country with little democracy.

The newspaper demanded that the law be canceled immediately and that Egyptian citizens be protected from it and its impact.

When Benjamin Netanyahu was elected prime minister of Israel in 1996, Egyptian-Israeli relations worsened.

There were many disagreements after Israel accused Egypt of hindering the Israeli-Palestinian peace process by pressing the Palestinian side not to make further concessions during peace negotiations. Egypt also supported the Syrian side with its land for peace proposal. Israel also accused Egypt of urging Arab countries to stop normalizing relations with Israel.

Furthermore, Israel added pressure on America's Christian-Zionist lobby, which influences the decision making of the US government, encouraging it to attack Egypt.

The second Egyptian revolution put an end to the "Big Middle East" project which Washington was preparing for many years to weaken Arab countries and defame the true meaning of Islam.

As a result, media attacks against Egypt began the day after the Muslim Brotherhood government, which was assigned to carry out the American project, fell.

The US Senate and House Foreign Affairs committees during a special hearing to discuss the development of peace in the Middle East attacked the Egyptian law governing non-governmental organizations and demanded that the US Secretary of State take a stand against it.

They also demanded that a report be prepared on the development of democracy in Egypt and the rights of Egyptian Christians.

Is the American Congress the supervisor of governments around the world? On what basis are US Congressmen interfering in the internal affairs of independent countries?

This is totally unacceptable to Egypt and to all independent countries around the world. Does the US government permit any other country in the world to interfere in its internal affairs?

American society is one in which racism is still practiced. Black people in the US still suffer racism in a country that claims that it is a democracy, and American society still considers Mexicans and Latinos to be second class citizens.

The Egyptian law regarding non-governmental organizations concerns only the Egyptian people. The general understanding of non-governmental organizations, not only in Egypt but around the world, is that they only work as service organizations. Political work is within the domain of political parties. Therefore, there are distinct differences between non-governmental organizations and political parties.

There are many non-governmental organizations around the world which act as a front for hostile activities against the country in which they operate.

It is also known that foreign intelligence services indirectly fund these non-governmental organizations in order to control their activities.

It is clearly necessary that governments protect their national security and people from foreign intervention. The attacks against Egypt are an attempt to pressure the country to limit its role in the Middle East, to isolate it from the peace process, to enable Israel to force its conditions on the Palestinian people and to ensure that American projects in the region will be successful. It is impossible for any of these objectives to be realized as long as Egypt is strong.

– Hassan Tahsin is an Egyptian writer and political analyst. He can be reached at htahsin-8hotmail.com

Saudi Gazette - US interference in Egypt's internal affairs