The Non-Governmental Organisations Registration (Amendment) Bill 2013 is drafted

In September 2013, the Non-Governmental Organisations Registration (Amendment) Bill 2013 was drafted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The apparent intention was to close loopholes in the current NGO regulatory instruments.

However, a detailed review of the Bill reveals that the main object is to reign in on what is termed as “subversive methods of work and activities,” in the NGO sector. If enacted into law, it would expand government control over NGO funding and activities further inhibiting their ability to protect freedoms and play a monitoring role in the lead-up to the 2016 elections.

The Bill proposes creation of District NGO Monitoring Committees (DNMCs) to closely control operations of NGOs. The proposed law further seeks to empower the national and district monitoring committees to dissolve an NGO that does not comply with the law. NGO employees who violate sections of the law will be liable to prison terms of up to eight years.