New Delhi: The Central government has canceled the licenses of two NGOs for accepting foreign donations. The licenses of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) and the Apane App Women Worldwide India (AWWI) have been revoked.
CHRI’s license, which had been suspended for 180 days, has now been revoked. An official from the Union Home Ministry said that the investigation against the NGO was complete and that they could not be allowed to continue receiving foreign funding.
According to the ministry, CHRI did not provide information on the opening of a bank account in 2016 and the receipt of foreign funds for certain projects. The NGO had approached the Delhi High Court last year against the suspension of the license but there was no favorable order. The action against AAWWI also points to the failure to file an annual financial return. It is an NGO working against sex trafficking. The organization is headquartered in New York and Kolkata.
In January, the central government did not renew the FCRA registration of 5,900 NGOs. The licenses of NGOs including Oxfam India Trust, Indian Youth Centers Trust, Jamia Millia Islamia and the Tuberculosis Association of India have not been renewed.
