Teesta Setalvad NGO to lose its license

By NewsGram Staff Writer

New Delhi: The Sabrang Trust run by Teesta Setalvad has been given a notice of cancellation of its registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) of 2010 by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday.

If the registration under FCRA is suspended, the organization will not be eligible to attain foreign funding.

According to the sources, the orders suspending Sabrang Trust's FCRA registration is booked under Section 13 of FCRA. The organization has been issued a 180-day notice to explain why its licence should not be cancelled under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act for violations.

Sabrang Trust is charged with using $2,50,000 worth of foreign contribution for purposes other than it was intended to. These funds were received from Ford Foundation. The NGO had spent over 64% of total donation worth Rs 48.42 lakh received in 2010-11 on administrative expenses, in excess of the 50% cap mandated under FCRA.