New Delhi, April 8, 2023: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked for a CBI probe into Oxfam India for its alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). The recommendation comes two years after the government rejected the NGO’s plea for renewing its FCRA registration. The MHA’s recommendation comes in light of several allegations against Oxfam including transferring foreign funds to many entities including those that are also under the scanner of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). MHA also alleged that Oxfam engaged in activities that it had not declared as a part of activities when it had registered for the FCRA.
As per reports, the MHA, in its raid of Oxfam’s premises in March 2023, found that the NGO has disbursed funds to two NGOs - Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and renowned social activist Harsh Mander’s Aman Biradari. In March 2023, the investigating body also initiated action against Aman Biradari for alleged FCRA violations.
“Oxfam India is fully compliant with Indian laws and has filed all its statutory compliances, including Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) returns, in a timely manner since its inception. Oxfam India has been cooperating with all government agencies since its FCRA registration wasn’t renewed in December 2021,” the NGO was quoted as saying to a news outlet.
MHA claims that Oxfam had engaged in all its unlawful activities even after it was registered under the FCRA 2020. The FCRA rules of 2020 prevented NGOs from making foreign contributions to Indian entities.
“The amendment came into force on September 29, 2020, and Oxfam India transferred funds to other NGOs, violating provisions of the FCRA, 2010,” an MHA official was quoted as saying to a new outlet.
In 2022, MHA raided Oxfam India’s office and said that it found proof of the NGO’s plan to violate the FCRA rules of 2010 by ‘routing funds to other FCRA registered associations or through the for-profit consultancy route.’
“Oxfam India received foreign contributions amounting to around Rs 1.50 crore directly into its FC utilization account instead of receiving foreign contributions in designated FCRA accounts.” A few sources are known to have told a news outlet.
Oxfam Indian had applied to renew its FCRA registration in December 2021, but the plea was rejected by the government because of its alleged FCRA violations before that. The MHA maintained that the application by the international NGO was cancelled in the public interest. This meant that the Indian branch of the NGO could no longer accept or use funds that came from foreign sources.
In response to the government’s rejection of its plea, the NGO released a statement in January 2022, saying: “The restriction will severely affect our ongoing crucial humanitarian and social work in 16 states across the country. This includes setting up oxygen plants, providing lifesaving medical and diagnostic equipment such as oxygen cylinders and ventilators, and delivering lifesaving food to the most vulnerable communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
