Shocker for NGOs :::: India's NGO brigade has been soft towards 'dynasty'. Why ? :::: Modi pledges 'scaling new heights' in 2022

Harsh Mander's Center for Equity Studies and Oxfam India were in the past accused by some right wing bodies of 'misusing funds' to fuel riots of February 2020 in Delhi. 
Mander, a former bureaucrat, is often given out as an individual who has been close to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

"The Hindu-Muslim carnage took place around the time US President Donald Trump was in India and the government was obviously left red-faced though Trump had skirted the issue," says an opposition Trinamool Congress leader.

According to her, an organisation Legal Rights Observatory has also tweeted to welcome the government decision.

"New Year has brought best news! One #FCRAViolation issue," the LRO tweeted.
"Are you convinced @OxfamIndia now that U were actually doing harm to Assam Tea only to kill employment, to promote #RiceBag conversions of those loosing Tea employment n to promote militancy at the behest of foreign Tea Companies?," LRO wrote in another missive.

In 2019, Oxfam India in its report had said: "Workers on tea plantations in the Assam region of India are systematically denied their rights to a living wage and decent working and living conditions".

NGO 'shops' get New Year's Day shocker. 

6000 deprived FCRA 'funding' nod

Till Friday, Dec 31, 2021 ,,,there were 22,797 #FCRA registered #NGOs in #India. Now only 16,829 after removal of 5,968 organisations (including 5,789 which didn’t apply + 179 rejected for violation) as on Dec 31, 2021. @HMOIndia 

The Modi government had canceled the FCRA licenses of about 10,000 organizations in 2015 alone.

Blogger: With a harmless Gun !

In 2019, the government canceled the FCRA certification of 1,807 non-government organizations and educational institutions across the country.

Among the prominent organisations which no longer hold a 'FCRA registration' to receive foreign funding are - 

Hamdard Education Society, Indian Institute of Technology (Hauz Khas), 

Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), 

Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), 

National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), 

Delhi College of Engineering, 

Goa Football Association, 

Press Institute of India, 

The Lepra India Trust and Indian Institute of Management (Calcutta), 

Medical Council of India, 

Emmanuel Hospital Association, which runs over a dozen hospitals across India, 

Tubercolosis Association of India, 

Vishwa Dharamayatan, 

Maharishi Ayurveda Pratishthan, 

National Federation of Fishermen’s Cooperatives Ltd, 

India's NGO brigade has been always soft towards 'dynasty'. Why ?

Bhartiya Sanskriti Parishad, 

DAV College Trust and Management Society, Godrej Memorial Trust etc.

The Centre amended the FCRA in 2020 allowing conducting an enquiry before a renewal and giving organisations of surrendering the licence if an organisation doesn’t want it.

A second officer, who also requested anonymity, said between September 29, 2020 and December 31, 2021, when the amended FCRA law came into force, 18,778 NGOs or organisations were eligible for renewal of licences, out of which only 12,989 submitted the request for the renewal.

(my Sept 2020 piece  on NGOs and FCRA issue

Link: 

ucanews.com

2022 is here with us, PM pledges 'scaling new heights' 

"Happy 2022," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his early morning tweet and wrote: "May we keep scaling new heights of progress and prosperity, and work even harder to fulfill the dreams of our great freedom fighters."

He further wrote, "May this year bring abundance of joy and good health in everyone's lives."

Certainly, health remains a major concern for India and the rest of the world, as the dreaded Coronavirus, or Wuhan virus has taken different variants and names. Nevertheless, the challenges remain. 

The registrations for COVID-19 vaccination of children falling into the age bracket of 15 to 18 years commenced today on the Co-WIN portal, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said.

Taking to Twitter, the Health Minister said, "If the children are safe, then the future of the country is safe! On the occasion of New Year, registration is being started on the COWIN portal for COVID-19 vaccination of children in the age group of 15 to 18 years from today." 

He requested the family members to register the eligible children for vaccination. As announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the vaccination for the age group of 15-18 began today, while the administration of the precautionary third dose for the vulnerable categories of 60 plus is to commence from January 10, 2022.

Prime Minister Modi, in his messages, congratulated Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Union Civil Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on their birthdays.

"Birthday wishes to Manipur's dynamic Chief Minister Shri @NBirenSingh Ji. Over the last five years, he has headed a progressive, inclusive and development-oriented government in the state," Mr Modi tweeted.

In his message to Scindia, PM wrote - "Greetings to our energetic Cabinet colleague Shri @JM_Scindia Ji". 

"He is vigorously transforming India's aviation sector including boosting connectivity, furthering reforms and 'Ease of Living.' Praying for his long and healthy life in service of the people," Mr Modi said. 

Rio: Fighting on but under pressure

Meanwhile, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio also congratulated his Manipur counterpart on his birthday.

"May God bless you with good health and long life. I wish you a wonderful birthday and a happy New Year," he wrote.

Rio is an NDPP leader leading a coalition regime in Nagaland supported by BJP and another regional party, NPF. 

There is a sizable presence of Nagas in some hilly regions of Manipur, and they could play game-changers in some assembly segments during the ensuing polls in Manipur. 

The Nagaland-based NPF won four seats in 2017 and later extended support to the N Biren Singh ministry in Manipur. 

The NDPP-BJP relations will be keenly watched in the next few weeks and months as the centre rejected Chief Minister Rio's plea and extended provisions of AFSPA in the entire state for the next six months. 

Violence hit: Mon, Nagaland