Government asks 1,222 NGOs to validate bank accounts

Neeraj Chauhan| TNN | Sep 14, 2017, 04:11 IST

NEW DELHI: The ministry of home affairs has asked 1,222 NGOs which received foreign funds to validate their foreign contribution bank accounts or face penal action under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010.

Some of the organisations which have been warned by MHA through a circular include - Sri Ramakrishna Math, Ramakrishna Mission, Indore Cancer Foundation Charitable Trust, Coimbatore Christian Charitable Trust, Delhi School of Social Work Society, Hindu Anath Ashram, Madani Darut Tarbiyat, Rehmat E Alam Hospital Trust Anantanag, Rotary Club of Mumbai Midwest, JK Trust (Bombay), Goonj, Madina Education and Charitable Society, Nagaland Bible College, Indian Institute for Nature and Environment Study.

In its circular, the ministry said all NGOs registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) should receive foreign donations in a single designated bank account.

However, it is seen that a number of such organisations have not validated their foreign contribution designated accounts, causing problems for the banks to comply with the FCRA provisions that they (banks) report to the central government within 48 hours of such receipt or utilisation of foreign contribution, the circular read.

These associations are required to validate their foreign designated accounts and also the utilisation accounts immediately and send the details, including the bank branch, code, account number, IFSC etc through FC 6 form which is available on https://fcraonline.nic.in, the circular said.

"Non-compliance may lead to penal actions as per FCRA 2010," it said.

The centre had sent a notice to the NGOs earlier on updating their bank account.

The Modi government, which has tightened the rules for NGOs, has already cancelled registration of more than 10,000 non-governmental organisations in the last three years for alleged non-filing of annual returns as mandated in the FCRA.

In addition, renewals of more than 1,300 NGOs have been denied or they were closed in recent past for allegedly violating various provisions of the FCRA.

The home ministry has also asked nearly 6,000 NGOs to open their accounts in banks having core banking facilities and furnish details for real-time access to security agencies in case of any discrepancy.

The move was initiated after it was detected that many NGOs have their bank accounts in cooperative banks or state government-owned apex banks or banks which do not have core banking facilities.


TOP COMMENTNGO business is a den of corruption.Sudhip Kumar Sen
In November, 2016, the government had directed more than 11,000 NGOs to file applications for renewal of registration by February 28, 2017.

Of the above, 3,500 NGOs have filed applications for renewal and hence the registration of more than 7,000 NGOs were deemed expired due to non-filing of renewal applications.

Currently around 22,000 FCRA registered NGOs are operating in the country.

CBSE orders psychometric test of all school staff

Sumaiya Yousuf| TNN | Updated: Sep 14, 2017, 04:07 IST

HIGHLIGHTS

CBSE’s guidelines

Conduct psychometry tests of all staff in 2 months and install CCTV cameras at all vulnerable areas in school

Ensure support staff are employed only from authorized agencies, train them to safeguard kids
Access to school by outsiders should be controlled, visitors must be monitored

Representative image.

BHOPAL: Breaking its silence five days after the murder of a child at Ryan International School in Gurugram, the CBSE on Wednesday announced that the onus of safety of students on campus lies solely with school authorities.

The CBSE said this in response to a Supreme Court query in the aftermath of the Gurugram school murder. On Wednesday, the board sent a circular on 'safety of children' to its affiliated schools, giving them two months to complete psychometric evaluation of all staff — teachers, non-teaching employees, sweepers, bus drivers and conductors included.

"Owing to increasing incidents involving safety and well-being of school children, the onus for safety and security of children on campus shall solely lie upon the school authorities," says the circular, adding: "It is the fundamental right of a child to engage and study in an environment where he/she feels safe and is free from any form of physical or emotional abuse or harassment."

The official word from CBSE will assuage parents jolted by the Ryan School murder. What may prove tough for schools is the mandatory psychometric evaluation.

"Schools must get psychometric evaluation done for all the staff employed. Such verification and evaluation for non-teaching staff — such as bus drivers, conductors, peons and other support staff — may be done very carefully and in a detailed manner," the CBSE said.

TOP COMMENT  Initiative is very nice but CBSE must ensure it's implementation in true spirit. Chances of fake psychometric test certificates issued by medical authorities should not happen. CBSE MUST ENSURE THAT ... Read MoreRavindra

Deputy secretary (affiliation) Jaiprakash Chaturvedi has asked schools to strive to promote better understanding among teachers and staff on "laws protecting the safety, security and interests of students". The latest rules require all schools to devise means to "take immediate remedial and punitive action against such violations." "The staff members should also be educated to recognize their protective obligation toward students and to ensure safety and well-being of children in schools," the circular says.

The HRD ministry's guidelines regarding preventive mechanisms and procedures to ensure safety of children in schools must be followed seriously, it adds, pointing out that the board has issued instructions from time to time to implement and sensitize schools to ensure safety of students during school time and while in transit. "These exhaustive provisions are required to be strictly followed by every school affiliated with CBSE to ensure complete safety of schoolchildren in school. In addition, the school authorities may immediately take strict measures to enhance the security of children in schools," the board said.

Govt plans to hire retired teachers who aren't yet 75

Anuja Jaiswal| TNN | Updated: Sep 14, 2017, 06:16 IST

HIGHLIGHTS

Union HRD minister said on Wednesday that the Centre is considering bringing back retired teachers not more than 75 years old.

The minister said the government was considering this in order to bring back good faculty members 

to streamline education.

Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar. (Photo: PTI)

AGRA: Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar in a meeting via video-conferencewith authorities of 42 universities across India said on Wednesday that the Centre is considering bringing back retired teachers not more than 75 years old and with "good teaching record" to fill in the large number of vacancies in centrally funded institutions and universities.

The minister, who confirmed the development to TOI, announced this while addressing officials of various universities and institutions. He said these retired teachers could be hired provided their teaching record is good and they are medically fit and that "they stick to academics, not getting into administration".

Javadekar said the government was considering this in order to bring back good faculty members to streamline education and tackle the backlog.

He also suggested that good research scholars from reputed foreign universities, too, could be given teaching assignments in India. He directed all vice-chancellors to bring down vacancies to 10%. He assured all help from the government for this initiative and said it should be the quality of teaching that attracts more attendance in classrooms rather than just physical facilities.

Incidentally, Javadekar had recently announced a major recruitment drive across campuses as new central universities have 53.28% vacancies, followed by NITs with 47%.

TOP COMMENTpeople are losing jobs due to your tax policies and many graduates have no vaccany coz of fake skill development programme. employ young blood, people who are almost at their grave will teach student... Read MoreSuneet

According to Aligarh Muslim University registrar Javed Akhtar, one of the participants in the discussion, AMU alone has 20% vacancies, with 55 of the 195 sanctioned posts for professors lying vacant. Besides, posts for 110 associate professors and 160 assistant professors are vacant against the sanctioned strength of 390 and 1,040 respectively.

Among central universities, the central university of Haryana, according to HRD records, is reeling under 75.11% vacancies as on April 1, 2017, while in the same period Delhi University recorded a total of 54.75% vacancies against permanent positions.

50% of UK’s visitor visas given to Chinese, Indians

TNN | Sep 14, 2017, 05:18 IST

HIGHLIGHTS

Of the total 26.3 lakh UK visas issued during last FY, 20.38 lakh or 77% were for visitors alone.
As many as 4.14 lakh Indians obtained visitor visas, a rise of 10% from the previous FY.
By comparison, those granted to the Chinese, excluding from Hong Kong, rose 24% to 5.36 lakh.

Representative image.

MUMBAI: Visitor visas constituted the bulk of total visas granted by the UK to nationalities in non-European Economic Area (EEA) during financial year ended June 30, 2017. Nearly 50% of visitors were from China and India.

Of the total 26.3 lakh visas issued by the UK during this period, 20.38 lakh or 77% were for visitors alone. The aggregate number of visitor visas reflected a rise of 8% over the previous year ended June 30, 2016. Of the 20.38 lakh visitor visas, Chinese were allotted 26% and Indians 20%. The primary visa categories include visitor, work and study.

According to the UK's home office, as many as 4.14 lakh Indians obtained visitor visas, a rise of 10% from the previous corresponding period. By comparison, those granted to the Chinese, excluding from Hong Kong, rose 24% to 5.36 lakh.

Aside from visitor visas, the most common ones granted to non-EEA nationals include study visas (excluding for short-term courses). During the year ended June 2017, 2.13 lakh such visas were granted, a 4% increase over the previous year.

Visas granted to the three largest non-EEA student nationalities saw an increase too. Chinese students were issued 82,200 visas, a rise of 17% from the previous financial year; Americans 14,400 visas, up just 1% and Indians 11,700, an almost 10% rise, states the UK's home office.

The EEA brings together the Europena Union countries and a few others such as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland into a single market—allowing for free movement of people.

Thus, the UK home office statistics on visas include only non-EEA countries. The official statement, though, explains that some non-EEA nationalities such as Americans do not normally require a visa to visit the UK. Consequently, the number of visitor visas granted is much lower than the total number of arrivals.

While Brexit may change the scenario, the number of visas issued to skilled workers remained fairly constant during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2017, compared with the corresponding period in the earlier year. There was an insignificant decline of 1.25% to 92,805 from 93,935.

The earlier trend continued, with Indian nationals accounting for nearly 58% (or 53,366) of the total skilled work visas granted. US nationals were the next largest group with 9,144 Tier-II visas granted to them or 10% of the total in this category.

In the previous corresponding year, Indians had obtained 53,548 Tier-II visas or 57% of the total visas in this category, whereas Americans with 10,019 were issued 11% of these visas.

Work visas across all categories, which include Tier-I (unskilled), youth mobility and temporary ones saw a marginal decline of 2% from 1.66 lakh visas in June 2016 to 1.63 lakh visas.

The impact of Brexit has shown some signs with EU nationals gradually migrating out of the UK. Latest available figures for a 12-month period up to March 2017 show that the net migration or the difference between the number of people entering and leaving the UK, was 2.46 lakh, a decrease of 81,000 from the previous year.

LATEST COMMENTgood push to tourism in UK.Ravie

According to a Uniten Kingdon-based immigration counsel, the government's initial aim was to bring the net migration to below one lakh people a year. However, there has been internal discontent on this issue and the industry fears a brain drain should this happen.

"Indian workers are largely in the skilled category. Further, several of them are on company secondments. It is too early to tell what will be the impact of Brexit on them," says this expert.

Mayiladuthurai express’ no-show upsets passengers

tnn | Sep 11, 2017, 00:25 IST

Trichy: Passengers from the Trichy railway division have appealed to the railway authorities to restart the Mayiladuthurai - Trichy - Mayiladuthurai express (Train No 16233/16234) which has been often cancellated between various sections for more than five months on this section on account of line block and maintenance works. Commuters alleged that despite good patronage for the train, railway authorities were purposely suspending the train in an attempt to cancel it completely.

Mayiladuthurai is on the main line section between Trichy and Villupuram. Three major A-grade stations Mayiladuthurai, Kumbakonam and Thanjavur lie on this section. Even with limited operation of trains, about 40,000 passengers use this section daily for their travel needs, commuters says.Quite often, this express has been cancelled between any two destinations since the first week of April 2017, stating to facilitate engineering works, said A Giri, member of Divisional Rail Users Consultative Committee and vice-president of Thanjavur District Rail Users' Association.

Meanwhile, the Southern Railway has again announced cancellation of the train between Thanjavur - Trichy - Thanjavur from September 10 to 30, for a period of 21 days, he said.

"When the line block and maintenance works were a regular affair, why is it that the officials are disturbing only this section for a long time. For the last five months this has been the case. Because of this, commuters were put to great hardship. Hence, the services of this train may be operated up to Thiruverumbur, instead of cancelling at Thanjavur itself," he suggested.

High court appoints official to block 'Blue Whale'

L Saravanan| TNN | Updated: Sep 13, 2017, 09:31 IST

HIGHLIGHTS

Justices K K Sasidharan and G R Swaminathan took up the issue suo motu as a PIL and passed the orders on Tuesday.

The Court directed the Centre to order internet service providers to remove all the links being circulated on social media platforms.

Representative image

MADURAI: The Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Tuesday directed the central and state governments to bring `over the top' (OTT) service providers into the legal framework of India to check the `Blue Whale' menace. Appropriate steps should be taken immediately to make all OTT services and service providers comply with Indian laws and to provide the required information to law enforcing agencies, it said and asked the Tamil Nadu government to appoint a nodal officer to ensure implementation of the order.

Methods must be devised to ensure that those OTTs which could not be brought within such framework are not accessible in India. OTT is a term used for the delivery of film and TV content via internet without requiring users to subscribe to a traditional cable or satellite service, it said.

Justices K K Sasidharan and G R Swaminathan took up the issue suo motu as a PIL and passed the orders on Tuesday . It said, "Protecting the society is the joint responsibility of the ser vice providers, content providers, lawmakers, society , family and the community at large and of course the users of internet themselves. Court cannot remain mute spectators when the society is faced with such a social menace. Hence, the case is disposed of with directions to the central and state governments."

"Technology companies and websites follow the laws of their respective jurisdiction and as such, they do not provide data and information, in spite of making a request for it by the law enforcing agencies in India on account of violation of India laws," the bench said. "The government must consider amending relevant rules and regulations applicable to Indian subsidiaries and websites making it compulsorily amenable to Indian laws." The Centre should direct internet service providers to take due diligence to remove all the links and hashtags presently being circulated on social media platforms and also in dark net with URLslinks related to the Blue Whale game and to furnish information regarding downloadsaccess to suspicious links.

The state shall designate forthwith vigilance and anti-corruption joint director Dr S Murugan as the nodal officer in terms of Rule 4 of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009, who must ensure implementation of the order blocking the website and removing links.

The school and higher education secretaries shall take active steps to ensure educational institutions sensitise and "warn students as well as parents not only about this Blue Whale challenge game but also the lurking dangers" in the digital world, the bench said.

Salem woman gets PDS card with Kajal Agarwal’s photo

TNN | Updated: Sep 14, 2017, 00:39 IST

Coimbatore: Saroja Periyathambi, a 64-year-old resident of Kaamalapuram in Omalur taluk, Salem district, was taken aback when she saw the picture of a pretty young woman on her PDS smart card that she collected from the local ration shop on Tuesday.

"When I collected the card I did not notice the photo. When I came home, I saw the photo was of a young woman and not mine. My grandchildren and relatives told me the photo was that of actor Kajal Agarwal. We went to the shop and informed them about this," Saroja said. Also, her date of birth was misprinted on the card.

Arul Prakash, district supplies officer (incharge) of Omalur taluk, told TOI that he got to know about the error through the new media. "I immediately went to the village and met Saroja. I ensured that she received the corrected card within an hour. This was probably due to a mistake in uploading the information into the system," he told TOI. The collector has issued a show cause notice against Arul Prakash and the employee at the ration shop. "The woman in charge of entering the data is a physically disabled person and is only class 8 pass," he said.

An official said the data entry process is done in a browsing centre. "Someone must have downloaded Kajal Aggarwal's image and the employee would have scanned Saroja's image and saved it in downloads. There is a possibility that the mix-up happened while renaming the image," said the official. "But to not know the difference between a 64-year-old woman and a popular young actress is unforgivable," said an official.

Meanwhile, this goof invited harsh criticism from various quarters. PMK leader Ramadoss said this was not the first time such incidents had surfaced and slammed the negligence of the government staff. Other opposition leaders said that since this is an important process that involved data entry into software, only educated people should be used for the job.

Sources told TOI that this was not the first such complaint. "In Omalur alone there have been 24 complaints so far. If people around Saroja had not informed the media, this would also have been hushed up and she would have been made to run from pillar to post to get the correction done," said an official.