On Wednesday, the Central government informed Parliament that it had received some complaints about ‘The Other Media’, a non-governmental organization that organized protests and demonstrations that led to the closure of the Vedanta-owned Sterlite copper plant in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi in 2018.
Back in 2020, The Commune had reported on the nature and funding of The Other Media. The key persons who were instrumental in instigating the Sterlite Protest have been reported in this article.
The Other Media (TOM) is an FCRA-NGO with the registration number DL 231660085. Nityanand Jayaraman, a self-proclaimed environmental activist is the Chairperson or Chief Functionary of TOM.
TOM has received funding from questionable entities like World Association For Christian Communication, Canada, Christian Conference of Asia, Catholic Organization for Relief and Development Aid (CORDAID) of Netherlands and Trócaire, the official overseas development agency of Catholic Church in Ireland.
TOM has also received funds from Bread for the World (BfW), a “globally active development and relief agency of the Protestant Churches in Germany”.
While TOM’s account statements (Form FC-6) mention the nature of association to be “educational, social”, all their donations have been marked under “Activities other than those mentioned”.
Now, the NGO could lose its Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) license if any violations are discovered, the Home Ministry claimed after asking for clarifications from the organization.
Nityanand Rai, the Union Minister of State (MoS) for home affairs, responded in writing to a question posed by Congress MP Naranbhai J. Rathwa in the Rajya Sabha, stating that “some representations/complaints alleging violation of the provision(s) of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA, 2010) by the association “The Other Media, New Delhi” have been received by the Ministry. Additionally, field agency inputs have also been received.”
In May 2018, Vedanta’s Sterlite copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi was shut down as a result of widespread protests in which 13 people were killed by police shooting on the 100th day of a demonstration. The protesters called for the permanent closure of the Vedanta Copper Plant on the grounds that it seriously polluted the environment.
Congress MP Naranbhai J Rathwa inquired whether the ministry had received complaints about ‘The Other Media’ misusing funds to organize protests and demonstrations around Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper Plant in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, the details of funds received by it, and whether any action would be taken against the organization.
In his response, the MoS stated that when FCRA violations are reported, a standard questionnaire is issued to the association seeking detailed information, and the same is examined in terms of the provisions of the FCRA, 2010 and rules made thereunder.
The MoS further said, “In case violations of provisions of the FCRA, 2010 are found, the certificate of FCRA registration of the association may be canceled under section 14 of the Act.”
According to the minister, the organization received a foreign contribution of ₹3.54 crores from 2019-20 to 2021-22, of which ₹2.79 crores was used.
(With inputs from Hindustan Times)
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.