Union Home Ministry puts Ford Foundation under watch list

Union Home Ministry on 23 April 2015 has placed the international funding organisation the Ford Foundation on its watch list.

The Ministry took this decision on the basis of inputs received from security agencies. It was found that Ford Foundation has been funding those entities which are not registered under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, and such activities amount to serious violation of Act.

The Ministry by exercising the powers conferred under Section 46 of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 2010 has instructed Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to ensure that funds coming from it be brought to the notice of the Home Ministry.

Further, RBI is requested to instruct all the banks and their branches to ensure that any fund flow from the Ford Foundation to any person, NGO, organisation in India shall be brought to the notice of the ministry so that funds are allowed to be credited into the accounts of the recipient only after clearance of this ministry.

The ministry also wants to ensure that the funds are utilised for bonafide welfare activities without compromising on concerns of national interest and security.

After the decision now all funds coming from the US arm of the foundation will have to be cleared by the Home Ministry.

The move was taken in response to the allegation made by the Gujarat government that the organisation was interfering in the internal affairs of the country and also abetting communal disharmony through an NGO run by social activist Teesta Setalvad.

There have been allegations that the recipients NGOs have not filed mandatory annual reports and balance sheets with the government.