Govt. revokes FCRA licence of Wangchuk’s organisation, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The Union Home Ministry revoked the FCRA registration of an organization founded by Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday, citing alleged violations.
• The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is also conducting an inquiry into another non-profit organization established by Wangchuk regarding similar allegations.
• The Ministry cancelled the FCRA registration of the Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) after issuing a show cause notice on August 20.
• One alleged violation involved the deposit of ₹3.5 lakh into the FCRA account during 2021-22 from the sale of an old bus.

Detailed Insights:

• The revocation follows a show cause notice issued to SECMOL on August 20, seeking explanations for alleged FCRA violations.
• The Ministry deemed the explanation for the ₹3.5 lakh deposit as "not tenable," as the amount was received from Wangchuk and classified as a "foreign donation".
• Another instance involved ₹54,600 in local funds being "inadvertently" deposited into the FCRA account in 2020-21 by three individuals.
• SECMOL received ₹4.93 lakh from a Swedish organization, Framtidsjorden, in 2021-22 for studies involving "national sovereignty," which the government deemed a violation of FCRA rules.
• The Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), which does not have FCRA clearance, is also under CBI inquiry for suspected FCRA violations.
• This development occurred a day after violence in Leh, during protests demanding Statehood, with the Ministry alleging Wangchuk's statements incited the unrest.

Key Concepts Involved:

• FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act): An act that regulates the acceptance and utilization of foreign contributions by individuals, associations, and organizations in India.
• Foreign Contribution: The donation, delivery, or transfer made by any foreign source of any article, currency, or security.
• Statehood: The status of being recognized as an independent nation or state, with full rights and responsibilities under international law.