NGO Forum

IntelliNews published an article titled, “Controversial NGO bill enters Hungarian parliament.” The article reads as follows;

“Hungarian MPs began to debate the controversial bill on the transparency of foreign-funded NGOs in parliament on April 19.

The Fidesz-supported bill recommends that NGOs that receive at least HUF7.2mn (€22,973) annually from abroad must be registered, placed on a state list and declare on all their correspondence that they are foreign funded organisations. Critics have compared the bill to a Russian law that classifies many NGOs as ‘foreign agents’.

The Times of India published an article titled, “Tough norms for NGOs seeking government funds.” The article reads as follows;

“Draft guidelines outlining stringent regulations intended to enhance accountability of lakhs of NGOs and voluntary organisations receiving nearly Rs 1,000 crore of government grants every year were submitted by the Centre to the Supreme Courton Wednesday .

The guidelines may seem exhaustive for most NGOs and VOs as they said organisations wanting to get government funds must register afresh online with Niti Aayog‘s `NGO-Darpan’ portal giving details of past work, fund utilisation, yearly audit reports and key persons managing the NGO or VO.

The Economic Times published an article titled, “Government prepares draft guidelines for accreditation of NGOs.” The article reads in part as follows;

“NEW DELHI: The rural development ministry has drawn up draft guidelines for the accreditation of NGOs and other voluntary organisations, it informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

These include proposals on how they should maintain their accounts and the course of action if they misused grants. The draft also details conditions under which criminal action could be initiated.

Additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta circulated the proposals in the court on Wednesday to seek suggestions. The proposed norms, said the ministry, would help ensure transparency and autonomy of NGOs.

Asian Correspondent published an article online titled, “NGOs appeal to Unesco to save Indonesia’s Leuser Ecosystem.” The article reads in part as follows;

“A coalition of NGOs has submitted a letter to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in a bid to save a remote expanse of tropical rainforest in Indonesia’s Aceh province

Local NGOs, including the Orangutan Information Centre (OIC), the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program as well as the Forest, Nature and Environment Aceh (Haka), have raised serious concerns regarding a proposed geothermal power plant, which they claim could harm the heritage-listed Leuser Ecosystem.