Filing of FCRA return

Posted on June 1, 2012 by SRRF

Dear Friends,

Kindly let me know the frequency of filing FCRA return and oblige.

Thanks and Regards

Ashish Kumar Saxena
Akash Memorial Charitable Trust

Posted in FCRA, TAX, LEGAL | 6 Comments

India emerging as a new face among donors

Posted on May 30, 2012 by SRRF

India was the largest recipient of foreign aid between 1951 and 1992. India received about $55 billion in foreign aid. Now, it seems a transformation is going to take place- India’s switch from world’s biggest recipient to donor is a part of wider change shaking up foreign aid. India seems to be on the verge of setting  up its own aid-giving body. The government is in active discussions to create an India Agency for Partnership in Development (IAPD), an equivalent of America’s Agency for International Development (USAID) or Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID). Even today, America remains the largest single donor,with $31 billion in 2010. The second in the list would be China, which gave away $25 billion in 2007. Brazil gives upto $4 billion a year of assistance. Then, in the list is Sweden, Italy or Saudi Arabia. If India gives around $ 2 billion a year, it would rank with Austria or Belgium.

The Indian government sees aid as a way of improving its ties with its neighbors.  It gave $25m to Pakistan a year ago, via the United Nations, to assist in flood relief. It has also made huge investments in hydropower in Bhutan, which have helped both countries. India would now like to do something similar with Nepal. India extends large, soft loans to curry favor with a friendly regime in Bangladesh and is paying for post-war reconstruction in Sri Lanka. With Western support, it is also building roads, a power grid and a new parliament building for Afghanistan, where India is the fifth-largest donor.

According to a new report by a non-governmental organization called Global Humanitarian Assistance, aid from non-DAC (Development Assistance Committee) countries rose by 143% in 2005-08, to $11.2 billion, before falling during the financial crisis. Aid from the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China) more than doubled. The establishment donors’ aid monopoly is finished.  Moreover, aid from upstart donors is not exactly new. India has trained poor countries’ civil servants for decades, in a programme called Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation (ITEC). According to the foreign ministry sources, this year, ITEC will train 5,500 people from 120 countries. As countries and their contributions are soaring, the aid world would be witnessing genuine competition from donors all over the world.

____________________________________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008

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Latest Steps at Railways to improve Sanitation on Trains

Posted on May 29, 2012 by SRRF

Further to our last post on the topic that Open Discharge Toilets is costing Indian Railways more than Rs 350 crores (see http://www.srr-foundation.org  under Section on Social Issues), Indian Railways has now decided to launch a train, Bundelkhand Express, with bio–toilet facilities. At present, Duronto Express has controlled discharge toilet system.

However considering there are 1.72 lakh Open Discharge Toilets and only less than 200 toilets have been converted into bio-toilets, Indian Railways has to move at a much faster pace. This system also perpetuates the evil practice of Manual Scavenging within the government, although the Act banning manual scavenging was passed way back in 1993.

 ____________________________________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008

Posted in Social Issues | Comments Off on Latest Steps at Railways to improve Sanitation on Trains

Rumble Strips : Do they help Pedestrian safety?

Posted on May 28, 2012 by SRRF

Most members would be aware that SRRF Dialogue has been working continuously on Pedestrian Safety, considering large number of death and suffering being caused due to traffic accidents and further that almost every second person being killed in road accidents is a pedestrian and the problem is escalating due to growing urbanization.

In view of such serious situation, the authorities are making efforts for improving the Pedestrian safety infrastructure, particularly for crossing wide roads which have fast moving traffic. Lately, it has been observed that PWD has put up rumble strips (4-5 mini speed breakers in a continuous row) on various places on experimental basis. Though rumble strips have been put up to help people cross road, it rather appears to be unscientific as these only allow slowing down of vehicles. It still does not help elderly, disable and children, who need more time to cross. It is also a hazard for fast moving vehicles, particularly two wheelers.

Traffic lights seems a better option, as it brings the traffic to complete halt and thus it provides time for pedestrians to cross the roads with dignity and peace of mind. Further even vehicles need to stop only during the red light.

____________________________________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008

Posted in Pedestrian safety | Comments Off on Rumble Strips : Do they help Pedestrian safety?

Tender Money

Posted on May 24, 2012 by SRRF

Dear Friends,

I have a query and would request you all to respond. We have a EU supported project and as part of the guielines we have to float a International Open Tender for procurement. My point is as follows:
“We will be receiving Tender Guarantee Money from the bidders. Where shuould be the money parked if the money is received from foreign supplier? Should it go to LC account or FC?”

Thanks and regards,

______________________
B V Soma Sastry
Centre for World Solidarity
12-13-438, Street No. 1, Tarnaka
Secunderabad 500 017
Andhra Pradesh

Posted in FCRA, TAX, LEGAL | 3 Comments

VAT Applicability for charities

Posted on May 12, 2012 by SRRF

Dear SRRF Members,

Can you please let me know whether there is any exemption available for registered charities on VAT payment? In some cases when we purchase equipment we are charged VAT. Can we tell the sellers not to charge tax if there is exemption if any on VAT for charities?

Your opinion will help us a lot.

Thanks & Regards,

T. V. Balasubramanian
Regional Finance Manager

Sightsavers (India)
Phone : +91 22 28821919/ 0808 Extn:102
Fax : +91 22 2882636

Posted in FCRA, TAX, LEGAL | 1 Comment

Is Bt cotton enhancing yield?

Posted on May 11, 2012 by SRRF

Cotton provides livelihood to more than 60 million people in India by way of support in agriculture, processing, and use of cotton in textiles. It is an important element of the agriculture GDP contributing 29.8%. In terms of quantity, India is the third largest producer of cotton. Compared to other countries yield is substantially low. The major reason for the low productivity is due to damage caused by insect pests, mainly American Bollworm. Farmers need to invest heavily in pesticides (worth Rs 12 billion) to control the same. As a solution, Bt cotton technology in India was introduced by Mahyco (Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company), in collaboration with Monsanto. Bt cotton has already been commercialized in six countries: the United States (1996), Australia (1997), South Africa (1997), Argentina (1998), Mexico (1996), China (1998), and Indonesia (2000).

In India, Bt cotton now constitutes nearly 90% of total area under cotton cultivation. The state wise cotton crop data released by the ministry for 2010-11 has shown that Bt cotton has emerged as the largest cotton crop in all the major cotton producing states.

Slowly Bt cotton is appearing to improve the productivity, though there are arguments that it is not appropriate for rain-fed areas. However, the improvement in overall production of 334.25 lakh bales in 2011 compared to previous year’s 242.25 lakh bales; while the cultivation areas has more or less remained constant (110 lakh hectares) indicates that perhaps there is a need to further study the impact of Bt cotton.

________________________________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in

Posted in General | 4 Comments

FCRA applicability

Posted on May 10, 2012 by SRRF

Dear SRRF Members,

We have received a new query on FCRA Applicability, from Venkat Raidu

1. Is FCR Act applicable to those agencies which are formed by Act of Parliament? Or
2. they can receive funds without registrations?

Looking forward to your response.

SRRF Dialogue Team
_______________________________________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in

Posted in FCRA, TAX, LEGAL | 3 Comments

Query- Service Tax

Posted on April 26, 2012 by SRRF

 

Dear SRRF members,
We have received a new query under Service Tax, from Sachchida

Kindly let us know:-

1. Manufacturing of lather garments excisable & rate of excise.

2. Applicability of service tax if manufacturing on jabwork basis.

Looking forward to your response.

With warm regards,

Tanvi

__________________________________

Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in
Posted in FCRA, TAX, LEGAL | Comments Off on Query- Service Tax

Purchasing Power Parity- An Indian Summary

Posted on April 21, 2012 by SRRF

India has become the third largest economy in the world in purchasing power parity, overtaking Japan. With this distinction, India joins United States and China.

The purchase of power parity shows how much amount is required when it comes to purchasing of similar kinds of goods and services regarding 2 countries. Major achievements by India over its economic reform period are illustrated in the Table below:

________________________________       

Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in

Posted in Governance Reforms | Comments Off on Purchasing Power Parity- An Indian Summary