Don’t Throw Stones

Mistrust is being created over Anna’s Draft by saying it keeps NGOs out of purview of lokpal. It needs to be clear that it surely covers all bodies and officials who use public exchequers’ fund (say taxpayer’s money or Govt. Fund) come under Janlokpal THAT INCLUDES NGOS TOO.

It could otherwise be taken as that “FOREIGN FUNDED NGOS SHALL NOT COME UNDER LOKPAL, THIS IS WHAT ANNA’S TEAM WANT BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE NGOS AND PERHAPS FOREIGN FUNDED.”

Things need to clarify. Many NGOs get funds for foreign agencies. Before that, they get nod from central government and registered under FCRA. All these funds are monitored under FCRA act, need to be audited annually and submitted to GOI home affairs ministry. Such accounted funds are annually (even monthly as in CG) checked by LIB, Special branch etc. again by Registrar, Income tax Deptt. In addition funder’s own country’s ombudsman checks in their way. So there are already multiple systems in place. However, to kill anna’s integrity, fuss is being created that he doesn’t want NGOs under purview of lokpal.

First understand the meaning of NGO. Nowhere in our constitution or litigations, term NGO is ever mentioned. It is a broad term in use by UN after WWII, for organizations those are not controlled by government (subtext – working for welfare, harmony, rights etc). But one can (read Govt. if it want to..) take all people’s association - registered under societies, trusts, cooperatives and companies act, are NGOs. So from Reliance to IPTA, Amul to Tirupati Devsthanam Board, and FICCI to Shiskakarmi sangh all are NGOs. These do not take fund from government hence they are out of purviews of Janlokpal. If you want to bring otherwise funded NGOs (read foreign funded), every private body will come.

But In our folklore, NGOs are those who get “Theka” from government. They should come under lokpal and Annas draft has brought them under Locpal. Aruna Roy’s bill includes foreign funded NGOs, and annas team has not contradicted it so far. As NGO, We also do not have objections. If there is nothing to hide, let come 5^th, 6^th,…100^th agency to check, recheck and re-rechecks.