Author:
Publication: Swadharma.in
Date: April 4, 2024
URL:    https://swadharma.in/3-christian-2-woke-ngos-delicensed-for-fcra-violation/

CASA, for example, received huge donations from countries like Sweden, Germany and the United States to expand the Christian footprint in India

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recently taken action by revoking the licenses of five non-governmental organisations (NGOs) — three of them made to further Christian causes and two others for woke causes like environment and relief — under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The government decided to delicense these NGOs following a thorough investigation and proper legal procedures, which uncovered various violations, including the misappropriation of foreign donations.

The licenses of the following NGOs have been revoked:

Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFOI)
Church Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA)
Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI)
CNI Synodical Board of Social Service (CNI-SBSS)
Indo-Global Social Service Society (IGSSS)
The ministry had previously granted these NGOs a six-month extension in September 2023. However, the permits of these NGOs were officially revoked on 30 March. Unless their licenses are reissued, they will not be able to utilise or receive any foreign funds.

The FCRA license of the Evangelical Fellowship of India was specifically terminated due to violations of the regulations. “Evangelism” refers to the practice of trying to persuade people to become Christian.

During the time of India’s independence, the NCC Relief Committee was established by the National Council of Churches. Over time, this committee evolved into CASA, which is the Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action. From April to June 2023, CASA received significant foreign donations from various countries, including Sweden, Germany, and the United States to expand the Christian footprint in India. These contributions are well-documented in the FCRA contribution statement.

Founded in 1970, VHAI has maintained a close working relationship with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

VHAI has received foreign contributions from countries such as the United States and France. These countries have been particularly active in assisting during times of disaster, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the super cyclone in Odisha and the Bhuj earthquake in Gujarat.

And that was only the surface. VHAI has been involved in religious conversion besides violating foreign grant regulations.

In 1970, the Church of North India (CNI) was established, and CNI-SBSS was formed as the official rural development arm of the Church. However, the home ministry revoked the license of the Delhi-based Churches of North India (CNI) in December of the previous year. The Enforcement Directorate raided CNI and its affiliates on suspicions of misappropriation of church property.

Indo-Global Social Service Society (IGSSS), another non-governmental organisation dedicated to climate resilience, has secured financial support from Germany, the United Kingdom and Singapore. Over 100 NGOs, such as Oxfam India, the Centre for Policy Research, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, and the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust, have faced the revocation of their FCRA licenses in the past year following accusations of misusing foreign donations.

Parliamentary records of last year say Rs 55,741.51 crore was received in foreign contributions by 13,520 FCRA-registered associations or NGOs between 2019-2020 and 2021-2022.