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Time of India
an hour ago
- Business
- Time of India
Pragmatism or pullout? State asks local bodies to mobilise donations
Thiruvananthapuram: The state govt's instruction to local self-govt (LSG) institutions to systematically mobilise public donations and sponsorships to fund development activities has gained attention, with doubts raised about whether the "financially pragmatic" move signalled further withdrawal of state support in key development areas. In a detailed circular dated June 2, the LSG department directed local bodies to formulate a "comprehensive strategy" for raising voluntary contributions and sponsorships from individuals, non-profit organisations, corporate entities under CSR, and other sources to "increase the scope of development activities and accelerate the pace of local development." Faced with a persisting financial crunch, the govt had halved its Plan size in the last financial year, significantly cutting down on many schemes. Finance minister K N Balagopal told reporters on Wednesday that the govt always welcomed public donations and nothing more needed to be seen in the circular. He also refuted charges that the performance audit of local bodies would be solely based on such donations. The circular specifies that the performance of local bodies in donation mobilisation and utilisation will be included as a metric in their annual evaluation, and innovative models may be documented by KILA (Kerala Institute of Local Administration) and showcased for replication. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 【adidas官網限定】Mega Summer 超級降價 adidas 香港官方網上商店 立即選購 Undo Noting that many public assets — including schools, hospitals, libraries, anganwadis, markets and even roads — were built with people's donations over the years, it asks local bodies to chart out a plan at the beginning of their tenure for collecting contributions for schools, hospitals, drinking water facilities, roads, playgrounds and welfare institutions. It also suggested tapping alumni networks, PTA committees, CSR arms of businesses, and even youth-led voluntary labour. The govt has also prescribed detailed compliance measures to avoid misuse. Donations must be received directly by the LSG institution, and a proper receipt must be issued. The funds must be credited under a designated budget head, and all details, including donor names and intended usage, must be published both in gram sabhas and on the official websites. It should also be ensured that donations collected for a specific purpose are used only for that purpose, the circular said. It also warns that only legally compliant donations may be accepted — including compliance with the Income Tax Act and the FCRA (though foreign donations aren't in question here).
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Kerala slams Centre over foreign aid approval to Maharashtra, cites bias
The CPI(M)-led Kerala government on Sunday accused the BJP-ruled Centre of political bias after it permitted Maharashtra to accept foreign contributions for disaster relief while denying similar requests from Kerala during its devastating 2018 Finance Minister K N Balagopal stated that the state welcomed the Centre's approval for Maharashtra but called out what he described as 'discriminatory treatment' between support the decision to give permission to Maharashtra, but there shouldn't be differential treatment towards states. It shows that centre sees the states differently and that is based on politics. It is not right for the administrators to show that their criteria is not the disaster but politics. This is not right for the relation between state and centre,' said Balagopal. His remarks came after the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund was granted registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA), making it eligible to receive foreign aid. This contrasts sharply with the Centre's earlier refusal to allow Kerala to accept foreign assistance during the 2018 floods, despite offers from countries including the Balagopal's concerns, CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar also criticised the Centre, accusing it of showing 'step-motherly treatment' toward Union Government's recent approval allowing foreign contributions to the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund starkly highlights the injustice done to Kerala during the devastating 2018 floods, when foreign aid was blocked and contributions to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund were disallowed,' he said.'At the time of the 2018 floods that devastated the state of Kerala, many international organisations including the Government of UAE expressed their willingness to extend a helping hand to Kerala but such requests were outrightly denied by the BJP government,' Kumar InTrending Reel IN THIS STORY#Kerala#Maharashtra
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Kerala slams Centre for 'discrimination' over foreign aid policy
Kerala's CPI(M)-led Left government on Sunday accused the BJP-ruled Centre of political bias after it allowed Maharashtra to accept foreign aid while denying similar help to Kerala during its 2018 floods. State Finance Minister K N Balagopal said Kerala has no objection to Maharashtra receiving foreign assistance for relief efforts. However, he criticised the Union government for what he called "discriminatory treatment" between states. "It's not disasters and sufferings of people but politics that is the criterion for the Centre to take such decisions, which is unbecoming of administrators," he said while addressing reporters here. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Advanced Strategic Management IIMK ASMP Apply Now Undo The state finance minister's sharp reaction comes amidst reports that the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund has been accorded a licence under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, thus making it eligible to receive foreign funding. As per the law, all associations and NGOs receiving foreign contributions are required to be registered under the FCRA. According to official sources, the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund located at Mantralaya in Mumbai has been registered with the FCRA after it fulfilled the criteria. Live Events While reiterating that Kerala has no objection to Maharashtra receiving foreign aid for relief, Balagopal said there was no justification for denying the same approval to the southern state. He also said that the Maharashtra government's perceived closeness to the ruling front at the Centre leads other states, including Kerala, to believe that this may have influenced the decision. The Union government's stance, he said, is a "violation" of the country's federal principles and the principle of equal treatment that should be guaranteed by the Centre to all states. Balagopal warned that differentiating between states based on political considerations, even during natural calamities, would damage healthy relations between the Union government and the states. "There should be equal justice in such matters. Everyone expects the rule of law and fairness in these circumstances," the minister said, urging the Centre to treat all states equally. Denying Kerala permission to accept foreign funds while granting the same to Maharashtra is unacceptable, he added. Balagopal also alleged that the Centre had shown apathy towards the state during the Wayanad landslide tragedy. Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the landslide-hit hamlets in Wayanad, no financial relief has been announced for the state by the Centre in this regard so far, he further charged. "We expected that an announcement of financial assistance for landslide-hit Wayanad would come from the PM when he arrived here for the inauguration of Vizhinjam seaport. But nothing has happened," he said. Though the state had expected a viability gap fund without condition for Vizhinjam Port, it was also not granted by the union government yet, the finance minister added. According to the website of the Maharashtra chief minister's relief fund, it aims at providing immediate relief to the people in distress in Maharashtra as well as in the country. The chief minister's relief fund provides financial assistance to people affected by major natural calamities like floods, droughts, fire accidents, etc. It also provides financial assistance to economically weaker sections for treatment of major diseases. An FCRA licence is a permit issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs that allows registered organisations to accept foreign funds for specific purposes. These licences are crucial for the NGOs, trusts and other entities seeking to receive foreign funding for social, cultural, religious or educational activities.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Allowing Maha to accept foreign aid: Kerala alleges political bias
1 2 3 T'puram: Kerala has questioned Centre's decision to allow Maharashtra to receive foreign contributions, alleging political bias. Finance minister K N Balagopal told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday that Centre is showing selective discrimination in permitting foreign aid, particularly towards opposition-ruled states. Recently, Centre approved foreign contributions to the Maharashtra chief minister's relief fund under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). This is the first time Centre has granted an FCRA licence to a state govt's account. The fund is registered as a trust and the approval is specifically for receiving donations for social work. Balagopal said that though the permission granted to Maharashtra is reasonable under such circumstances, this move contradicts Centre's earlier stand during the 2018 Kerala floods, when countries including the UAE offered substantial aid. The UAE pledged Rs 700 crore, but the Union home ministry denied Kerala permission to accept it, despite a formal request from the state govt. The decision had sparked widespread controversy. "Disasters, not politics, should be the criterion," the minister said. Balagopal said that during Covid-19 pandemic, Centre allowed foreign donations to the PM CARES Fund through a special account while Kerala was denied similar approval. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Born 1940-1975 With No Life Insurance Could Be Eligible For This Reassured Get Quote Undo He said Centre's decision in favour of Maharashtra triggered opposition from several non-BJP ruled states, which see it as discriminatory. He also said Maharashtra govt's perceived closeness to the ruling front at Centre leads other states, including Kerala, to believe that this played a role in the decision. He also criticized BJP leaders who, at the time, made remarks blaming the floods on beef consumption in the state. The minister also expressed disappointment that Centre has not provided any aid for Mundakkai-Chooralmala so far and did not announce any support during the Vizhinjam commission period either. He urged Centre to uphold equal standards for all states and not allow political considerations to influence disaster relief decisions.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Foreign aid nod to Maharashtra: Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal slams Centre for unfair treatment
Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal has accused the Union government of bias in permitting Maharashtra to accept foreign aid for its Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). Responding to the Centre's decision, Mr. Balagopal said here on Sunday that Kerala had been denied permission to accept aid from outside the country in the aftermath of the devastating 2018 floods. The Union government had denied permission despite the offers for assistance from abroad, he recalled. Mr. Balagopal said that Kerala was not against Maharashtra receiving foreign aid, but it was important that the Union government saw all States on an equal footing. Discrimination He said that it would not be surprising if Keralites felt that even in moments of great crisis, there was discrimination among States. 'Any State receiving aid in a crisis is a good thing. Giving permission to accept the aid is also a good thing. But the Centre's approach gives room for doubt that the decision is driven by political bias,' he said. Mr. Balagopal said it was quite unbecoming of administrators when politics became the yardstick and not the magnitude of disasters. Such approaches also failed to uphold federal principles, he said. The Kerala Finance Minister's remarks come close on the heels of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs granting the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010, registration to Maharashtra's CMDRF, thereby enabling it to receive foreign donations for 'social' programmes. No aid post-landslides Mr. Balagopal also recalled that, following the 2024 landslides in Wayanad, Kerala had expected Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce assistance on two occasions—during his visit to the disaster sites and later when he dedicated the Vizhinjam port to the nation. On both occasions, the State was disappointed, he said.
