March 9, 2021

About 29 percent of Indian women faced molestation in public places: LocalCircles survey

Gender: About 29 percent of Indian women have faced molestation or sexual advances in public places. Of these, over 75 percent did not even file a police complaint, according to the findings of a survey conducted by LocalCircles, a community social media platform. Trains, stations, public gatherings, and streets are top locations where Indian women have faced molestation or sexual advances.

The survey focussed on the vulnerability of women in public places in India, the effectiveness of the complaint registration system, and the process of interfacing with the police. It also sought to understand what actions survivors took to book perpetrators.

Of those who faced molestation or sexual advances in public places, only 23 percent filed a police complaint or First Information Report (FIR), while 15 percent said that despite their efforts to file a complaint, the police did not register it and take any action.And about three percent said that while the police did not register an FIR or complaint, they beat up or harassed the culprits.

The absence of fast-track courts, inadequate investigation, lack of effective vigilance, police inability, and patriarchal mindset of most Indian families, are among the reasons that Indian women have remained unsafe, said the survey.

A plausible solution, the survey said, includes introducing the concept of mutual consent and gender equality early in the school curriculum. Also required is an effective monitoring system, such as CCTVs in public places especially at train stations and bus stands, and an urgent need to sensitise police forces at the ground level.

Read this article on why we need a gender-sensitive public transport system.


May 20, 2021

Home Ministry extends validity period of FCRA registration certificates

Fundraising & Communications: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a circular extending the validity of FCRA registration certificates to September 30th, 2021. This applies to all FCRA licences that have expired or will expire between September 29th, 2020 and May 31st, 2021. The decision to extend the deadline has been driven by the exigencies arising from the COVID-19 situation.

FCRA refers to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010, which permits charitable organisations based in India to raise funds from foreign sources.

The order also clarified that nonprofits that have already opened an account and have the requisite permission to receive foreign aid, can henceforth receive it only in these newly-opened accounts.

The FCRA law was amended in September 2020 to include a clause that mandated that all nonprofits receiving foreign aid must necessarily open an account in State Bank of India’s New Delhi Main Branch. The government had initially set the deadline for this account opening as March 31st, 2021; it later extended it to June 30th, 2021 after several nonprofits argued in court that there had been delays because necessary approvals from MHA had not been received.

Several organisations have not been able to receive foreign funds during the crisis caused by the second wave, and this has impacted their COVID-19 relief efforts. Relaxing the foreign funding rules could significantly help organisations ramp up their operations to help individuals, supply critical healthcare equipment, and respond to communities in rural areas.

Read this article to know how amending the FCRA can have unforeseen implications.


May 20, 2021

Corporate spending on oxygen support and medical equipment now counts as CSR

Philanthropy & CSR: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has issued a circular that allows corporate spending on health infrastructure for COVID-19 care to qualify as corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure.

This includes setting up medical oxygen generation and storage plants, manufacturing and supply of oxygen concentrators, ventilators, cylinders, and other medical equipment to counter COVID-19.  

The announcement comes at a time when all efforts are being directed towards expediting efforts to support the country’s healthcare infrastructure.

According to the circular, companies can now undertake projects and activities in collaboration with other companies using CSR funds. Additionally, they can contribute to specified research and development projects, as well as publicly funded universities and certain organisations that conduct research in science, technology, engineering, and medicine.

The government had earlier clarified that setting up makeshift hospitals and temporary COVID-19 care facilities would also be considered a CSR activity. Rajesh Verma, the Corporate Affairs Secretary, has requested businesses to consider converting vacant office buildings into COVID-19 facilities to cater to the rapidly increasing caseload.

Read this article to understand why media attention on COVID-19 deaths due to lack of oxygen in big cities has skewed donor priorities.