The Indian government has barred an NGO from receiving international funding. Union home ministry has barred the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), an NGO registered with the government under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), from receiving foreign funding including that from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, for alleged violation of the law.
On charges of violating provisions of the FCRA by diverting foreign funds for purposes other than those the money was intended for, the home ministry acted against PHFI.
The home ministry acted against the PHFI after it was found that the NGO was allegedly violating provisions of the FCRA by “diverting” foreign funds for purposes other than those the money was intended for. As per the government rules, an organisation that intends to receive foreign funds has to register under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.
PHFI chief K Srinath Reddy said, “We have submitted all relevant documents and information to the ministry and are now waiting for a response.”
According to the PHFI website, the NGO was launched by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2006. It claimed that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is a founder member and supporter of PHFI and enabled its creation.
