US Senator Criticizes India's FCRA for Restricting NGO Funding

US Senator Tim Kaine criticizes India’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) for severely restricting NGOs from receiving global donations. He highlights that this act hampers organizations like Amnesty International and the Sambhali Trust, ultimately affecting the beneficiaries of their services. Kaine advocates for attention to this issue, highlighting its broader implications on human rights and development efforts.

US Senator Tim Kaine has criticized India's Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) for making it exceptionally difficult for NGOs to receive foreign donations. Speaking at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on 'Anti-NGO Laws and Other Tools of Democratic Repression,' Kaine underscored the impact of the 2010 and 2020 amendments that restrict NGO operations.

Kaine highlighted that organizations like Amnesty International and the Sambhali Trust have substantially curtailed their activities due to funding difficulties imposed by the FCRA. He stressed that these restrictions not only hamper human rights activists and NGOs but also affect the beneficiaries who rely on their services.

Emphasizing the broader implications, Kaine stated that while the US-India relationship remains crucial, the US must pay attention to these restrictive measures that undermine development and human rights efforts. He noted that although agencies have helped some NGOs like the Sambhali Trust, many others continue to face significant operational challenges due to the FCRA.

(With inputs from agencies.)