Orphanages Concealed Foreign Assistance

More Orphanages Concealed Foreign Assistance

By Athul Lal A G

Published: 12th June 2014 10:44 AM

Last Updated: 12th June 2014 10:46 AM

KOZHIKODE: The ‘Express’ investigation into the fraudulent way of snatching government grant-in-aid by orphanage managements by concealing financial aid from foreign sources has revealed that the malpractice is not confined to Kozhikode district alone.

As per the FC-6 return statement given to the FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) Wing of Foreigners Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Wayanad Muslim Orphanage, Muttil, received a whopping Rs. 4,25,12,305.75 in 2012-13 fiscal from various donors in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It had also received foreign aid to the tune of Rs. 3,74,95,650.39 and Rs. 4,06,79,220.34 during 2010-11 and 2011-12 fiscals.

However, while submitting the application for the government grant-in-aid, the WMO management maintained that it had not received any foreign aid. The audit report of the Local Fund Audit(LFA), Wayanad, in 2010-11 and 2011-12, says that ‘as per documents submitted by the institution, it had not received any foreign aid.’

By concealing the foreign aid, the WMO management secured grant-in-aid from the Social Welfare Department (SJD) worth Rs. 16,33,835 in 2011-12 and Rs. 20,19,664 in 2012-13. Sources with the LFA said the audit report of 2012-13 of the Wayanad Muslim Orphanage, which has a sanctioned strength of 650 inmates, is not finalised as the management is yet to produce the destitution certificates of children from other states and the undertaking on receipt of foreign funds for the period.

Similarly, the Ma’dinussaqafathil Islamiyya, Swalath Nagar, Melimuri, in Malappuram received foreign aid worth Rs. 1,15,48,317.19 in 2012-13 from various donors in Australia, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the UAE. While, Markazu Tharbiyyathi Islamiya, Karthala, Kuttipuram, got donations worth Rs. 90,67,916.38 from 11 donors belonging to Bahrain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Sources said both organisations had not furnished the exact details of the receipt of foreign aid before the Social Justice Department. In 2012-13, they secured a grant-in-aid from the state government worth Rs. 6 lakh and Rs. 6.4 lakh, respectively.

As per the Kerala Grant-in-aid Rules for the payment of Boarding Grants to Orphanages and Boarding Homes for Destitute Children, orphanages which are receiving grant-in-aid from the SJD should furnish a certificate showing the details of assistance received from abroad and the grant from the government will be regulated accordingly.