Now, govt guns for Ford Foundation

After Greenpeace, the Centre has now turned its eyes on Ford Foundation with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) putting it under the watch list on Thursday.

The MHA told the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to ensure that all donations made by Ford Foundation should be routed through the ministry due to “national security concerns”.

The MHA move came days after the Gujarat government complained to the Centre regarding the foundation’s funding to an NGO “Sabrang”, run by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s critic Teesta Setalvad, and subsequent inspection by the MHA’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) Wing.

The Gujarat government had last month written to the MHA against Ford Foundation claiming that the US-based organisation was “interfering in the internal affairs” of the country and also “abetting communal disharmony” through the NGO run by Setalvad. “It is revealed during the course of investigation that Ford Foundation, established with the stated goal of promoting communal harmony, democratic principles and social justice, has been indulging in covert activities of promoting interests that are completely contradictory to the said goals,” the letter  had stated.

Activists feel that the government action is an attempt to send a signal to the civil society as it came a fortnight after the MHA restricted Greenpeace from receiving foreign funds and froze its bank accounts, besides issuing a show-cause notice asking why its registration should not be cancelled.


Activists feel that the government action is an attempt to send a signal to the civil society as it came a fortnight after the MHA restricted Greenpeace from receiving foreign funds and froze its bank accounts, besides issuing a show-cause notice asking why its registration should not be cancelled.

The government wrote to the RBI’s Department of Banking Operations and Development that it has been “decided to keep a watch on all the activities funded by Ford Foundation, USA, which contributes to NGOs/ associations in India” under relevant provisions of FCRA.
The letter stated that the intention is to regulate receipt of foreign contribution by NGOs and to ensure that it is “utilised for bonafide welfare activities without compromising on national interest and security.”  It also reminded the RBI that government organisations can avail foreign funding only with the clearance of the Department of Economic Affairsand “any instance of a government organisation receiving funds directly from this agency may be withheld and brought to the notice of this ministry.”

Though the letter did not mention any wrongdoing by Ford Foundation, sources said recipient NGOs have not filed mandatory annual reportswith the government.
Foundation reacts

“The Ford Foundation has officially learned that the Ministry of Home Affairs is reviewing information related to their ongoing investigation of Sabrang Communications and Publishing Pvt Ltd. We have not been contacted directly by the MHA... As a charitable foundation with a global presence, everything we do is transparent and readily available on our website and public domain.”