Odisha announces handover of unused government properties to SHGs

Advocacy & Government: The Government of Odisha announced that it will handover all unused government properties in panchayats to self-help groups (SHGs) that are federated under Mission Shakti to empower rural women.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed district collectors to complete the process of handing over these properties within the next two months. “There are many government properties including government buildings, shopping complexes, and community ponds lying unutilised in panchayats, blocks, and districts. If the properties are given to women, they will use them for social and economic upliftment of the area,” said Patnaik.

“It would benefit the general public as well as women groups would generate income,” he remarked, adding that, “The empowerment of women has always been priority of my government. Mission Shakti has become instrumental in change. This step would help the silent revolution of women in the state.”

The Odisha government has carved out a separate department for Mission Shakti, which is expected to empower 70 lakh women associated with self-help groups under the programme.

Mission Shakti was launched in the year 2001 with the objective of organising women into SHGs for holistic empowerment and targeted livelihood activities. Currently, there are six lakh SHGs, with 70 lakh members in Odisha under Mission Shakti.

Read this article on why self-help groups need to look beyond financial empowerment of rural women.

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.

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.