Compassion International is a ‘non-profit’ (aka ‘charity’) with worldwide presence, and headquartered in Colorado, USA. It has been sending approximately Rs. 220 Crore p.a. to several FCRA-NGOs in India.

For a background on Compassion International (CI) as well as on a full identification of all FCRA-NGOs recipients from it, read the following two seminal Posts:

Part-1: http://fcraanalyses.blogspot.in/2016/07/compassion-there-aint-any-free-lunch-in.html

Part-2: http://fcraanalyses.blogspot.in/2016/07/the-claws-of-compassion-part-2.html

The current Post is motivated by a recent news story in The Hindu. Headlined “The Kerry Effect: Centre lifts curbs on fund transfers by NGO”, it started off as follows:

Thus, both the headline as well as the first paragraph imply that Government of India (GoI) allowed CI to transfer funds to FCRA-NGOs only after the US Secretary of State met our External Affairs Minister in September 2016.

What is Prior Permission category in FCRA?

Any Charitable Trust/Society/Company can register for FCRA. For the sake of convenience, let us call such entities as NGOs. Based on background checks and rationale etc., GoI can grant a FCRA registration to an NGO. Such FCRA-NGOs can receive foreign “donation” (donations are in quotes as nothing comes for free in this world, according to this Author) in a seamless manner. Such FCRA-NGOs need to file quarterly and Annual reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). That is it. The Quarterly returns mandate was instituted via the FCRA Amendments-2015.

There is another category of NGOs who can receive foreign donations, once in a while. Such NGOs can seek the permission of MHA for every remittance that they wish to receive, a priori. Such NGOs are not FCRA-NGOs (in my parlance), as they do not have a FCRA Registration number.

What is Compassion International’s status?

On March 28, 2016, MHA moved CI into the Prior Permission (PP) category. Let us not get into the reasons why they did so. Consequently, any remittance from CI to any FCRA-NGO has to be approved by MHA, on a case by case basis. CI continues to be in the same category until today (October 19, 2016).

The US Secretary of State arrived in India on August 29, 2016 and held discussions with our Ministers.

Did any FCRA-NGO receive donations from Compassion International between April-September 2016?

As mentioned earlier, The Hindu’s story implies that the US Secretary of State’s visit was instrumental in getting MHA to ‘remove’ curbs on CI’s remittances. What if FCRA-NGOs were receiving funds from CI in the period intervening March 28, 2016 and August 29, 2016? (on a case by case basis).

This can be easily verified by an examination of the Quarterly returns filed by FCRA-NGOs with MHA. FCRA-NGOs need to file this either with MHA or they can host the same on their websites. 6187 FCRA-NGOs had filed these returns for the first quarter of 2016-17, i.e., April-June 2016. The same can be accessed here.

Among these 6187 Quarterly returns, 65 FCRA-NGOs have received grants from Compassion International during the period April-June 2016, totalling to a sum of Rs. 22.3Crore. The Table at the end of this Post provides the list of these 65 FCRA-NGOs. FCRA-NGOs likely would have received funds from CI, post June 2016 as well which can be studied once the July-September 2016 Quarterly returns are made available online. Nothing unusual about it.

Conclusion

We have thus demonstrated that FCRA-NGOs were indeed receiving donations from Compassion International-Colarado, USA, after CI got into the PP category and even before the visit of the US Secretary of State.

Acknowledgments

The FCRA Wing of MHA is sincerely thanked for making publicly available the Quarterly and Annual Returns of FCRA-NGOs, without one having to use the stupid RTI route.

P.S.: Our own views on FCRA (beyond this story): It is largely a conduit for Evangelism and causes a change in our religious demography (won’t be reflected in Census). Thus, it should be scrapped.

Table 1. List of FCRA-NGOs who have received remittances from Compassion International-Colorado during the period, April-June 2016. [Secondary remittances via Compassion East India-Kolkata are not presented in this Table].

FCRA-NGO Address Reg. No. Rs. Faith & Deed Ministries D.No.27-1-29/B, Ameena Peta, Eluru, West Godavari District,Andhra Pradesh-534002 10180196 650425 Emmanuel Evangaleical Ministries Edda Kotaiah Street Badavapet Vijayawada,Vijayawada520010 10260368 664532 Utilise People’s Potential Action for Humanities and Research At-Balaji Nagar, House No.1,, D. No.318, PO Pathapatnam,Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh)-532213 10340045 3924120 Samatha Community Development and Welfare Society 19-60, 3rd line, Lingalathota Colon, Payakaraopeta,,Visakhapatnam Dist.,-531126 10350188 4079815 Society for Nurture, Education, Health Activities Door No. 517, Gotlam Village, S.O.Cantonment, Vizianagaram,Andhra Pradesh-535003 10370060 1864592 Goalpara Boro Baptist Church Union Tukrajhar, Kokrajhar,Assam- 20760004 642997 Soul Winning Mission Mission House, Khuskee Bagh, Purnea North,Purnea, Bihar – 31180012 887037 The Bethel Church Association Mission Compound, Dandkhora, Dist. Katihar,Bihar- 31300009 1713090 CALVARY SEVA SANGH AT OZAR PO HINDALA,SONGADH395365 42100159 1083047 New India Church Of God Bhthesda Nagar Chingavanam, Kottayam,Kerala-686531 52870083 353737 Diocese of North Kerala Diocese Office, Shoranur,,Palghat, Kerala – 52890001 2792229 Christian Agency For Rural Development Marthoma Office, ,Tiruvalla 689101.- 52930022 5128045 Maranatha Full Gospel Church Near Public Stadium Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, Pathanamthitta (Quillon), Kerala – 52930244 358842 Intercession India Trust Bldg.no.309,kalkundal Village, Udumbanchola, Erattayar,Idukki Kerala- 52940059 1977214 Khrist Seva Kendra Kshipra, P.B.NO.22,Dewas, M.P.- 63230001 1116157 Marthama Gram Jyoti Education & Development Society MarThoma Passionage, South Civil Lines, Jabalpur,Madhya Pradesh-482001 63310057 1463689 C S I Coimbatore Diocesan Council 204, Race Course Road, Coimbatore,Tamilnadu-641018 75850014 3076368 World Evangelistic Outreach Of India Charitable Trust No.- 5, Muthalamma Koil Street St., Selaiyur,Chennai, Tamil Nadu-600073 75900636 611467 Dr S.V.K. Foundation No. 4/219, Mugalapalli Gate, Thummanapalli, Hosur Taluk, Krishnagiri District, Dharmpauri, Tamil Nadu 635105 75940430 396996 Tirunelvelli Diocesan Trust Assocation No. 5 Punithavathtar Street, Palayamkottai,Tamil Nadu-627002 76030023 3435797 Peace Trust Deo Favante, 16 Kurichi Road, Kulavanikarpuram,palayamkottai,Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu-627007 76030266 724319 SHALOM GLOBAL FOUNDATION 7/2-97, ANANDAMMAL SHOPPING COMPLEX, INAM, KARISAL KULAM POST,SRIVILLIPUTHUR TALUK,626125 76110031 1506371 Sharing Love Mission 168/5, Third Street, Caldwell, Colony,Tuiticorin,Thoothukudi,Tamilnadu-628008 76160016 3085904 JESUS REDEEMS MAIN ROAD,NALUMAVADI628211 76160018 316083 Indian Society for Life Development D-12, Chinar Garden,Padegaon Cantt431002 83750078 402722 Suvarta Alliance Ministries Trust Church Compound,Nandurbar425412 83820007 2143411 Rays of Hope Ministries Ashalaya, Row House No. A-37, Sector-12, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, Raigarh, Maharashtra-410210 83850048 455393 Crown Of Life Ministries Behind The rasna Hotal,Bhosle Galli,,Panhala416114 83860225 414963 ANUGRAHA ARADHANA SEWAKAI SANSTHA A-10, MANAVSEWA NAGAR, SEMINARY HILLS,NAGPUR440006 83870206 925837 Central District South India Assemblies of God 3, Vivekananda Nagar, 3rd Cross, Bangalore,Karnataka-560033 94420333 282013 India for Christ Ministries No 739, 4th Main Road, A. Munireddy Layout,,Horamavu Main Road, Dodda Banaswadi,560043 94420544 832201 PREMSAGAR SEVA SADAN C/o Faith Assembly of God Church Vignana Nagar Main Road,New Thippasandra Post560075 94420593 1354401 Devanahally Mission of the Marthoma Church Budigere Road Devanahally, Bangalore,Karnataka-562110 94420761 1956489 ASHRAYA TRUST NO 388 CHOWRAPPA LAYOUT MARIYANAPALYA H A FARM POST,BANGALORE560024 94421443 197363 Treasurers Account The Methodist Church in India, ETCM Hospital, Kolar, Karnataka 563101 94570008 2032969 Comprehensive Rehabilitation Organisation And Service Society PB No.5 B.E.M.L Nagar, Kolar Gold Fields,Karnataka-563115 94570079 1379886 Nabajyoti Girls Hostel Mission Compound, Bolangir ,Orissa-767001 104840008 793746 Diocese Of Sambalpur Balangir, Orissa,- 104840013 1374031 New Life Movement India At/Po- Mohana, Gajapati,Orissa-761015 104930007 862059 Allocation of Development to Vulnerable in and Evangelical Nurture Trust(ADVENT) At/Po-Kurmingia, Via-Kalinga,, Distt.- Kandhamal,,Orissa-762022 105030023 669462 India Good News Association 183-a Katra Mission , Allahabad,Uttar Pradesh-211002 136230028 2010096 Fellowship Of Free Baptist , Gorakhpur,Up- 136470004 770759 Asian Sahyogi Sanstha India 42 Jail Road, Gita Vatika, Gorakhpur,U P-273006 136470036 344809 The Alliance 37, Cantonment Road,, Publishing House,,Lucknow , U.P.-226001 136550282 1314837 ETERNAL GRACE TRUST LOHANDIKALA POST AMOI,MIRZAPUR231001 136590041 635165 New Life League , Dist. Varanasi,Uttar Pradesh- 136760006 324696 Diocese Of Durgapur Bishops House, Bankura,West Bengal -722101 146920018 1910215 Peniel Gospel Team , Darjeeling,Wb- 146980057 1278687 Ghatal Missionary Baptist Fellowhip Kuirpai, Khirpai, Dist- Midanapore,West Bengal-721232 147040334 777171 Bengal Baptist Fellowship 24 Parganas, West Bengal 743 503,- 147110073 574267 Council Of Church Of God , Wb,- 147120258 1798861 Asian Outreach India 2nd Mile Sevoke Road, Shastri Nagar,Siliguri -734401.- 147120293 1345676 Compassion East India AQ 12, Sector IV and V,Salt Lake City, Kolkata 147120584 134085708 Reformed Presbyterian Church Peace Lane, Churachandpur,Manipur-795128 194160022 759837 Evangelical Free Church of India P.O Madanriting, 21, East Khasi Hills, Shillong,Meghalaya-793021 214250001 812037 Nav Jeevan Seva Mandal 534, Sfs, Block-c Sector 19, Rohini ,New Delhi-110085 231650163 6219453 Marathoma Syrian Church 53/12, W.e.a. Karol Bagh, New Delhi,-110005 231650397 1043627 Association of Revival Tebernacle 111(RPS),D.D.A. Mansarovar Park, Shahadra,Delhi-110032 231660385 1381465 Bethesda Charitable Endeavors 462, 2nd floor Indra Vihar, Mukherjee Nagar,Delhi110009 231661061 622663 Baptist Church Of Mizoram Serkawn, Zotlang P.O, Lunglei,Mizoram-796691 304340001 892511 Mission Evangelistic Association Kusumdih, P O Ansol,Dumka814101 337700013 843629 Bharatnya Charisti Seva Dal Trust Lalgarh, Madupur, Dumka,Jharkhand-815353 337700017 1598063 Medical Ambassadors 194, Indira Nagar Colony, Post New Forest, Dehradun,Uttaranchal-248006 347900041 586173 Bharat Susamachar Samiti Kulhan P.O., Sahastradhara Road,,Dehradun, Uttranchal-248001 347900050 2488285 Himalaya Inland Mission Landour, Mussoorie,Uttaranchal- 347900065 718525