Dear Friends,
Please throw light on:
Gone are the days when donors used to crowd at the doors of some good NGOs for funding good works.
Gone are great men like Gandhiji whose call for funds in crowded public meetings used to net in enough for good causes. Accountability was ensured.
We are into new form of crowd sourcing of funds through platforms committed to social causes, not just commercial ventures. Question is how to account for crowd-funds under FCRA, if
- some of the contributors through Indian platforms are foreigners
- some of the contributors through foreign platforms are Indian Citizens
- does Government have any check on anti-national elements taking advantage of such platforms?
Yes, NGOs have yet another method of sourcing funds for socioeconomic causes and also disaster relief and rehabilitation.
Udayashankar
We are unable to see wood for trees. The core issue is not FCRA and Government. We have drifted from Volunteerism and we are moving with popular stream of wisdom and swept away. Let us ask ourselves, our fellow organisations and communities. All the problems will be solved. We have lost our hold on the ground grass root and wasting time. Let as many meet once to discuss these matters that include resource mobilisation. We can get decisive finale answer.
We are willing to host such a conclave.
Regards,
V.B.Chandrasekaran, Chatti Mahatma Gandhi Aashramam,
Chatti Post, Chinthur Mandal, East Godavari District,
Andhra Pradesh, Pin Code: 507129.
Email: verivaan2049@yahoo.com antarbharatid2010@gmail.com;
Mobile: +919490109328 +918297976970.
A really good topic to start discussion on. cheers for that!!! Very right in saying crowd funding is fast catching up and there would be lots of competition at this front as well. Sometimes it so happens donor mentions “anonymous” as name and “anonymous@in” as email and like that. Very difficult to track this kind of donor details. The portals, I see do not attach much importance to this kind of anomaly and simply say mention our name therein where you do not find donor name. I doubt government has any good control over this but I believe, it would soon notice and come out with guidelines. For NGOs I would say the best course is to deposit tax on anonymous donations but not sure would be sufficient compliance in money laundering. I believe not. Depending upon risk capacity, volume of funds generated and proportion of funds wherein no details are there, organization should decide course of action. As responsible citizens we may as well ask government to clarify on the matter especially with FCRA authorities.