Author: Correspondent
Publication: Odisha Today
Date: July 10, 2009
URL: http://www.odishatoday.com/orissa_2/Foreign_funding_to_Orissa_NGOs_on_rise_100709-87634871254762514656426545.html
With rightwing Hindu nationalist, Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangha and its all affiliated bodies alleging large scale foreign
funding was responsible for conversion and subsequent violence in tribal dominated
Kandhamal, the issue might snowballed into a major controversy as 1,007 NGOs
from Orissa receiving funds from outside, mostly from western countries.
The NGOs received funds under the Foreign
Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976. Though, the Government blacklisted as
many 25 NGOs but it has completely failed in restricting foreign funds to
other NGOs.
Official record says Orissa has 1, 05,927
registered NGOs while 1007 NGOs receiving foreign grants.
"It was shocking that the figure has
been rising and the large scale conversion has been possible because of foreign
funds," alleged a VHP leader.
The VHP and others have been demanding complete
ban on foreign funding to NGOs working in Orissa, mostly in tribal areas,
he said adding the State Government yet to act on this issue.
"It has been probed that the western
countries funding NGOs in Orissa to convert tribal Hindu into Christianity,"
VHP State general secretary Gouri Prasad Rath said.
