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India’s Good Vision denies allegations of funding from overseas for anti-nuclear activities

Fourth ‘anti-nuclear’ NGO says we got no foreign funds in last two years, The Indian Express http://www.indianexpress.com/news/fourth-antinuclear-ngo-says-we-got-no…/918982/ Gopu Mohan , Shaju Philip : Kanyakumari, Fri Mar 02 2012 For the last two years, Good Vision — the fourth NGO facing government action for allegedly diverting foreign funds to fuel the protests against the Koodankulam nuclear power plant — has not received any funds from abroad.

From 2008-2010, Good Vision received foreign funds adding up to Rs 1.5 crore through CARE India, UNDP and Oxfam for implementing post-tsunami relief work. But, according to the organisation’s foreign contribution account at Syndicate Bank’s Karungal branch (in Kanyakumari district), the last monetary activity was two years ago.

While the three other NGOs — Rural Uplift Centre (RUC), Tuticorin Diocesan Association (TDA) and Tuticorin Multi-Purpose Social Service Society (TMSSS) — have denied any links to the protests, as reported by The Indian Express on Thursday, the director of Good Vision, Mano Thangaraj, is an active politician and is linked to the agitation. He is the convener of the political wing of the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy.

Like in the case of the other three NGOs, Good Vision received a note from the union home ministry seeking details about its foreign funds. Last month, Good Vision was informed that its account had been frozen for violation of the Foreign Contributions Regulations Act (FCRA), but no reason was specified.

Thangaraj alleged the move against Good Vision was motivated by his links with the agitation. “I have been opposing the plant since 1988. My work as an activist has no connection with the work done by Good Vision, which is a purely charitable outfit,’’ he said. “We have not undertaken any work in Koodankulam, Idinthakarai or anywhere in the neighbourhood,’’ he added. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/fourth-antinuclear-ngo-says-we-got-no…/918982/

March 2, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, politics