FCRA PROBE

NGO that raised questions about safety of Aadhar faces foreign fund probe

Aadhaar (File) Representational image

An NGO, that raised questions about the security of Aadhar card database, has been asked to explain the source of their foreign funding, if any, by the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) division of the union home ministry. The FCRA regulates the foreign contribution received by NGOs in the country.

Centre For Internet and Society, a Karnataka-based NGO which raised concerns over Aadhar card security features last year, has been served a standard questionnaire by the MHA, asking to it to explain its flow of foreign funds if any, which includes source and recipient accounts, the home ministry informed Parliament on Tuesday.

The NGO had, last year, claimed that crores of Aadhar card data could have been leaked on the internet. The UIDAI had, at that time, asked the NGO to clarify its position on the entire matter.

Sharing the information of notices served to various NGOs across the country for alleged FCRA violations, the home ministry on Tuesday told Parliament that 21 NGOs, which receive foreign funding, are being inquired into and have been sent standard questionnaires.

Besides Centre for Internet and Society , Mary Kom Regional Boxing Foundation, Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust in Delhi and Amnesty International (India ) Foundation have been served the questionnaires.

The MHA also informed the Parliament that audit and inspection of 21 other NGOs under scanner has been completed by the FCRA wing. This included NGOs like Public Health Foundation of India , NASSCOM and around a dozen Christian organisations and other NGOs based in Kerala and Arunachal Pradesh.  

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