Tamil Nadu Social Service Society, Tamil Nadu-based Christian social service organisation, loses FCRA registration

The Ministry of Home Affairs cancels FCRA registration of Tamil Nadu Christian organization for "violation" of regulations.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has cancelled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration of a Christian organisation — Tamil Nadu Social Service Society (TASOSS).

The non-governmental organisation (NGO) is the second Tamil Nadu-based Christian association whose FCRA registration has been cancelled 2024.

According to its website, which is under construction, TASOSS is an official organisation of the Tamil Nadu Catholic Bishops Conference.

According to MHA’s order, the NGO is no longer eligible to receive foreign donations and the registration has been cancelled on account of “violation”.

The NGO is registered as a “social” organisation. Registered associations can receive foreign contributions for social, educational, religious, economic and cultural programmes. FCRA registration is mandatory to receive foreign donations.

The cancellation comes days after MHA revoked the FCRA registration of World Vision India (WVI). Its parent arm, the U.S.-based World Vision, is one of the largest Christian voluntary groups with a presence in over 100 countries. WVI has been operational in India for the past 70 years.

Through FCRA, the ministry regulates foreign donations to ensure that such funds do not adversely affect the country’s internal security.