New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha passed the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020 by a voice vote.
The bill was moved for passing by Minister of State (MoS), Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai in the house.
“The FCRA is a law for national and internal security. Its main motive is to ensure that foreign funds do not dominate the political and social discourse of India,” Rai said in the Rajya Sabha during the discussions over the bill.
“Experience says that many organisations attempted to hide their identity and were successful in doing that. The reason behind this is that they has no fear because their identity was not established completely. So Aadhaar card has been brought in to establish their identity,” he added.
The Lok Sabha on Monday had passed the bill.
The bill proposes key changes in foreign funding rules in order to bring transparency and prevent misuse of the funds. The bill seeks to make Aadhar a mandatory identification document for all the office bearers, directors and other key functionaries of an NGO or associations, which are seeking funds from foreign sources. According to the bill, not more than 20 per cent of the total foreign funds received could be spent on administrative expenses.
The Bill proposes to enable the centre to allow an NGO or association to surrender its FCRA certificate.
The amendments also bar public servants and government-owned corporations from receiving any foreign contributions.
“Amendment of clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 3 to include “public servant” also within its ambit, to provide that no foreign contribution shall be accepted by any public servant,” the Bill says.
