India Refuses to Renew Foreign Contribution Registration of Missionaries of Charity

The Union home ministry has refused to renew the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration of the Missionaries of Charity, a humanitarian organization founded by Mother Teresa, citing non-compliance with eligibility conditions under the FCRA 2010 and Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules 2011. This decision comes after the organization's registration was valid up to December 31, 2021, and its application for renewal was received without any request for review. The move has sparked concern among critics, who fear that the organization's humanitarian efforts may be compromised.

Key Takeaways:

• The Union home ministry refused to renew the FCRA registration of the Missionaries of Charity due to non-compliance with eligibility conditions.
• The organization was valid up to December 31, 2021, and its renewal application was received without any request for review.
• The home ministry stated that no request or revision application was received from the Missionaries of Charity for the review of the refusal of renewal.
• The organization's registration was initially valid up to October 31, 2021, but was extended up to December 31, 2021, along with other FCRA Associations whose renewal applications were pending renewal.
• The screening process involved "adverse inputs" which led to the refusal of the renewal application.
• State Bank of India informed the Union home ministry that the Missionaries of Charity itself sent a request to the bank to freeze its accounts.

Statistics:

• The registration of the Missionaries of Charity was valid up to December 31, 2021, with a renewal application pending.
• The organization has 22,000 patients and employees who are affected by the decision to freeze their bank accounts.
• The Missionaries of Charity has been a registered entity under the FCRA since vide Registration No 147120001.

Sources:

• Union home ministry a release on December 27, 2021.