Economics: FCRA 2020, Will do more Bad than Good

 The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Bill(FCRA) 2020, have been passed in both houses of the parliament, waiting for the President's approval on some of the aspects. Such as capping administrative expense financed through foreign donation, mandatory account opening in SBI Delhi Branch, banning the transfer of grants recieved under FCRA Act to other outfits, giving power to Ministry of Home Affair to cancel the FCRA certificate of NGOs. All this are being done to NGOs when we need them the most, to fight the pandemic. These provisions make NGO susceptible to pressure from above. Nearly 20,000+ NGOs are currently registered under FCRA Act, contributing in wide range of works. They have been key in linking the gap between government programmes and beneficiaries. Many smaller NGOs at grassroots level have helped fighting the virus which would not have been possible without the support of bigger NGOs who in turn driven by foreign donations. This would not have been possible under the current bill. The experience these NGOs get while working at grassroot enables them to see loopholes in government programmes and sometimes makes them ask difficult questions. Questions related to discrimination, violation of human rights etc. Thanks to these criticism some of the finest laws have been born in the countries for example- Environmental protection law, Right to Education, Right to Information etc. The current intervention might disturb the freedom and firepower these NGOs have and eventually disabling the democracy at large.