THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Non-government organisations (NGOs) in the state have received foreign funds to the tune of Rs 4,080 crore during the last financial year, an increase of about 60 per cent compared to Rs 2,510 crore received during the previous year. According to the data available from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ayana Charitable Trust, Believers Church of India and Mata Amrithanandamayi Math continue to top the tally of highest recipients of foreign funds.
While the Pathanamthita-based Ayana Charitable Trust received Rs 1,091 crore, Believers Church of India, which is also based in Pathanamthitta, received Rs 906 crore. Kollam-based Mata Amritananda Mayi Trust received Rs 371 crore. Last Hour Ministry and Love India Ministries, both based in Manjadi in Pathanamthitta, are the two other agencies that received more than Rs 100 crore. While Last Hour Ministry received Rs 230 crore, Love India Ministries received Rs 171 crore. Some of the top recipients are said to be managed by same persons.
Compared to the previous year, Ayana Charitable Trust and Believers Church made considerable increase in foreign fund receipts. Ayana received only Rs 426 crore and Believers Church received only Rs 392 crore during the last year. Meanwhile, there was a slight dip in the foreign funds received by Amritanandamayi Math, compared to last year which was Rs 390 crore, according to the MHA data. As many as 1,525 NGOs had received foreign funds during the 2015-16. While 21 NGOs received funds in the range of Rs 10 crore to Rs 31 crore, about 270 agencies received funds in the range of Rs 1 crore to Rs 10 crore.
