Oxfam India told the Delhi High Court today that its “operations have virtually been forced to halt” after the central government refused to renew its Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act licence, The Indian Express reported.
The prominent non-profit organisation’s FCRA registration, which is mandatory to receive foreign funds, ceased on January 1, 2022 after it was denied licence renewal by the Union home ministry. In October last year, the Income Tax department also revoked its tax exemption status.
Seeking recourse in the Delhi High Court, the organisation filed an affidavit last week stating that three out of its seven development projects had to be terminated due to the lack of funds. It said the others too will be terminated soon.
“With the expected completion of termination of remaining projects by January 20, 2024, the petitioner will not have any projects in operation…This means that the petitioner will be without any work on the ground,” said the affidavit.
This comes days after Centre for Policy Research’s FCRA registration was cancelled by the Modi government.
At present, Oxfam India is operating with only 15 staff members as against its 251 staffers till December 2021. It said by March, the numbers will dwindle to four employees.
The organisation has shut all its Indian offices except the one in Delhi, which is also in the “process of closure due to a lack of available funds”, the affidavit said.
It added that the organisation spent Rs 7.04 crore from its reserves in FY2023 and in the current fiscal year, till November last year, it had spent Rs 3.36 crore from the reserves that currently stand at Rs 1.54 crore.
The organisation, which is also being investigated by the CBI, said it will not be able to pay salaries and social security benefits to its remaining staffers and pay the rent for its warehouses if its FCRA licence was not renewed.
The HC will hear the matter next on February 7.
Newslaundry had earlier reported that one of the reasons mentioned for the revocation of Oxfam’s tax exemption was linked to Adani Group. What was it? Read here.
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