NEW DELHI, July 24, 2016
Stepping up its scrutiny of NGOs, especially their financial dealings, the Centre has made obtaining unique identification numbers and registering them on the NITI Aayog portal, including the details of the Aadhaar and PAN numbers of all their trustees and office- bearers, mandatory for them to apply for grants from any ministry.
The decision was taken by the Aayog at its meeting on May 9, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired following which all ministries have been directed to process the proposal for grants and releases to the NGOs only through the Aayog’s portal, according to the minutes seen by The Hindu .
At the meeting to review the progress in providing unique identifiers to entities, Aadhar enrolment and provision of direct benefit transfer and services, it was also decided that a system should be developed to give unique entity numbers to charitable trusts and societies.
“As Aadhaar Act has already been passed by Parliament, it was felt that further steps to use Aadhaar in various schemes …should be initiated in accordance with the provisions of the Act,” the minutes said. The Act was passed earlier this year after the Centre moved it as a money Bill since these need only Lok Sabha’s nod for passage. The Rajya Sabha had approved amendments to the Bill moved by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, which the Centre bypassed.
Significantly, a June 26 government notification said if an NGO receives government funding in excess of Rs 1 crore, those handling its day-to-day operations will be treated as public servants under the Lokpal and Lok Ayukta Act (2013).
