The Union House Ministry has granted a license underneath the International Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) to Shah Rukh Khan’s NGO, Meer Basis, enabling it to obtain funds from worldwide donors, as per the sources it was revealed on Thursday.
Meer Basis, established in 2013, is devoted to assist girls who’re victims of acid assaults. It’s registered as a Non Revenue Organisation underneath the Firms Act and recognised as a charitable establishment underneath the Earnings Tax Act, the muse goals to offer medical, authorized, rehabilitative help to survivors, empowering them to reintergrate into society.
In line with insiders, the FCRA license was issued to SRK’s organisation a number of months in the past, although the precise date stays unspecified. This yr, the federal government has granted FCRA licenses to 175 organisations, together with the Mary Kom’s Regional Boxing Basis.
The FCRA license is essential for the Meer Basis. With this license, the organisation will obtain overseas donations, which might considerably increase its assets. Consequently, Meer Basis can higher assist acid assault survivors. Shah Rukh Khan’s celeb standing and worldwide recognition are anticipated to draw appreciable overseas contributions to the muse’s noble trigger.
Nevertheless, the House Ministry has been stern in its regulation and oversight of NGOs receiving overseas funds. Over the previous few years, quite a few NGOs have come underneath scrutiny, with the licenses of a number of high-profile organizations such because the Rajiv Gandhi Basis (RGF), Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Belief (RGCT), and the Centre for Coverage Analysis (CPR) being revoked for alleged authorized violations.
Between 2019 and 2022, the FCRA unit of the Indian House Ministry carried out inspections on at the least 335 NGOs to confirm their adherence to funding laws. These measures are a part of the federal government’s broader effort to tighten management over overseas funding and guarantee transparency and accountability within the sector.
In a big modification to the FCRA Act in September 2020, the federal government barred public servants from receiving overseas contributions, mandated Aadhaar for each office-bearer of NGOs, and diminished the permissible restrict for administrative bills from overseas funds from 50% to twenty%.