New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry has cancelled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration of two Odisha-based NGOs for allegedly violating various provisions of the law, sources said on Thursday.

The decision was made after the 'People's Organisation for Empowerment of Tribals' (POET) and 'Heavenly Grace Ministries' "failed the basic criteria needed to regularise their FCRA licences," according to an official from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the nodal ministry with the authority to regulate FCRA licences. "There was evidence against both NGOs for breaking various FCRA provisions," said the official, who did not want to be identified.

"Based on the information presented against both NGOs, the MHA suspended their registration in August of last year, and after a thorough investigation, their licence was finally revoked," he stated.

POET works with tribals in the Malkangiri and Koraput districts of Odisha, whereas 'Heavenly Grace Ministries,' a Christian evangelical organisation founded in 2001, focuses on employment, housing, education, and child and youth development. Its headquarters are at Kolnara, Odisha.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Union minister Nityanand Rai stated that the government has cancelled the FCRA registration of approximately 1,900 NGOs in the last five years for violating various provisions of the legislation. Rai further stated that the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) of 2010 does not include a mechanism for the blacklisting of NGOs, but that if any NGO is found to be in violation of the law and guidelines, appropriate action will be taken.

"Between 2017 and 2021, 1,898 NGOs or groups registered under the 'social' category had their FCRA registration certificates invalidated. These cancellations were made owing to a violation of the FCRA's 2010 rules "Rai stated in a written response to a question.

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