RDT NGO leaks sensitive Union Govt beneficiaries data to US organisations, LRFP seeks action and suspension of FCRA

Rural Development Trust, an Andhra Pradesh-based NGO, is accused of leaking personal and private information about State and Union Government beneficiaries to the people in the United States, allowing them to actively tamper with the list and make changes before being finalised. Finding this suspicious conduct, the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), a legal rights organisation, filed a complaint with MHA, seeking that RDT’s FCRA license be terminated for violating its rules.

As per LRPF, one of the RTD trust members is Mr Moncho Ferrer, a foreign national actively involved in its operations in India. In parallel, Moncho Ferrer also holds the position of board chairman for a US-registered public charity organisation, Vicente Ferrer Foundation Inc., registered in Washington, DC, USA.

LRPF argues that RDT receives foreign funds through the FCRA channel from the US-based Vicente Ferrer Foundation Inc. and gets financial assistance from the Andhra Pradesh State Government for its operations.

RDT has an extensive network across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It works in nine districts—six in Andhra Pradesh and three in Telangana.

LRPF claims that as part of its RTD operations in India, it shares sensitive and private details of State and Union Government scheme beneficiaries’ lists with people in the United States, allowing them to make and finalise changes to the beneficiary list, which is completely illegal.

To support this argument, LRPF cites the US-based Vicente Ferrer Foundation Inc., filed with the Government of the US, where it admits that it monitors the implementation of projects undertaken by the Rural Development Trust in India, particularly in Andhra Pradesh.

Vicente Ferrer Foundation admits that it reviews and analyses all the RDT quarterly and annual reports, like details of minor students’ attendance and performance data, for US donors. It also has access to the Union and State government-initiated housing project beneficiary lists and their demographic details, a serious charge made by LRPF.

LRPF raises serious concerns about this data exchange and minor individuals’ safety, security, and privacy.

Apart from interfering with the RDT reports, LRFP accuses the US-based Vicente Ferrer Foundation of interfering in finalising the beneficiary list of the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojna scheme. It alleges that the Andhra Pradesh government’s free housing project for poor and marginalised communities is being utilised by the Rural Development Trust for its Christian evangelical activities.

Moreover, LRPF says that by suppressing these details, the NGO renames the housing project as RDT colonies rather than attributing the Prime Minister scheme to give the impression among the poor people that the Rural Development Trust is the sole and absolute stakeholder in these welfare projects. The RDT also constructs churches in the said colony and encourages others to convert to Christianity for more benefits, targeting members of the Schedule caste community.

According to RDT annual reports, it has supporters from various global organisations, such as Fundación Vicente Ferrer (Spain), Vicente Ferrer Foundation (US), Stiftung Vicente Ferrer (Germany), Friends of RDT (UK), Fundacio FC Barcelona, Laliga Foundation, Swiss Academy For Development, and The Anganwadi Project (Australia).

The recent amendments to the rules of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act of 2010 clearly state that the chief functionary of the recipient Indian organisation should not be a part of the donor organisation.

Therefore, in view of the above serious circumstances related to national and social security, LRPF requested that the Ministry of Home Affairs suspend the Rural Development Trust’s FCRA registration and order an inquiry into its financial matters.