Headlines
UN applications of five Indian NGOs put on hold
By
Arul Louis United Nations, Jan 27
Applications from five
Indian non-governmental organisations for special consultative status
with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) were put on hold Monday
after Pakistan raised issues with their requests in three cases and
India in two.
The Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations
recommended 16 organisations for special consultative status -- none
from India -- and deferred action on the status of 17 others.
Consultative
status gives NGOs access to the ECOSOC and related organisations to the
UN's human rights mechanisms and to special events organised by the
president of the General Assembly. Over 4,000 NGOs have consultative
status.
Pakistan raised questions about the funding and income
statements of Eurasia Reiyukai, which according to its website, is
headquartered in Siliguri in India and promotes the teaching of Buddha
and the Reiyukai movement, which originated in Japan. It also operates
in Nepal.
Another organisation that faced questions from Pakistan
about its funding was the Disease Management Association of India.
Based in Mumbai, the NGO says on its website that it brings together all
the stakeholders in healthcare on one platform. It lists Associated
Chambers of Commerce of India among its partners.
Pakistan
questioned why Akhil Bharatiya Sanskrutik Sangh had registered itself as
an Indian national organisation and asked for more information about
its monitoring and evaluation. The Pune-based NGO says on its web site
that it works on cultural and educational activities for children and
youth and runs "global integrity development" programmes.
According
to a UN summary of the committee meeting, India questioned whether the
Human Rights Sanrakshan Sansthaa was a national or an international
organisation and asked for clarification about the role of government
officials in its functioning and about its membership. The organisation
says on Facebook that it is based in New Delhi.
India also
questioned whether The India Water Foundation had undertaken any
activities in neighbouring countries. On its web site, the foundation
says its goal is to create "a heightened public awareness" about "the
vital role water plays in our daily lives". It says its head office is
in New Delhi and also has a regional office in Varanasi.
(Arul Louis can be contacted at [email protected])