India has shared with the UK details on Oxfam India on FCRA issue

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said India had shared details on the status of 'Oxfam India' with the UK side during the dialogue.

New Delhi: The Indian government has shared with the United Kingdom the details on the status of 'Oxfam India', the Britain based social organisation, which did not get the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA) clearance in January this year.

"The Government of the United Kingdom raised the issue of the status of Oxfam India under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA, 2010) during the bilateral dialogue held on February 10," Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. 

He said India had shared details with the UK side during the dialogue. "The renewal application of Oxfam India was refused as it did not fulfil the eligibility criteria specified in the FCRA, 2010 and rules made thereunder," the minister said. 

In December 2021, in a highly controversial decision, a plethora of institutions like Oxfam India, Hamdard Education Society, Indian Institute of Technology (Delhi), Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), Indian Institute of Public Administration, National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), Nehru Museum, Delhi College of Engineering, Goa Football Association, and Press Institute of India were denied FCRA extension.

An FCRA license is mandatory to receive foreign donations in India. This was not the first time the Modi government has acted against NGOs and voluntary bodies putting a check on the fund flow of the organisations – most of them also allegedly indulging in undesirable
actions like conversion to Christianity.

"Oxfam India has filed an application for revision of refusal order under Section 32 of the FCRA, 2010. The registration, renewal and cancellation of registration is done based on the criteria specified in the FCRA, 2010 and Rules made thereunder," the Minister stated.