[cr-india] CG Tightens noose on Foreign Contribution, Last Date for Suggestions 18th March 2007

[ganesh puranik]

SUB:   i) CG Tightens noose on Foreign Contribution, may hurt development of CR in India.     ii) LAST DATE to send our suggestions to Parliamentary Committee is 18th MARCH 2007 
  Ref: 1) http://rajyasabha.nic.in/legislative/amendbills/home/press_releasecxii_2006.pdf 
           2) Times of India (Delhi Edition) dated 19th February 2007 
  Dear All
  As we know, after getting approval from the Govt, CR movement going to change the ‘Communication Scenario’ in the country; but a new decision by the Central Govt. regarding Foreign Funding would hurt the progress not only of our CR movement but the whole development sector in the country.  Central Govt. tightening noose on International Support which mainly comes for developmental purposes.   
  The international or foreign support is a very important factor in almost all the developmental activities, especially at the initial stage of the work.   Same is with our Community Radio, if we look the History of Community Radio movement in Nepal, then we could find how international support helped the CR movement in its initial stage to spread its reach in the Himalayan Nation. 
  OUR Central Government decided to change the ‘Foreign Contribution Regulation Act – 1976’ and the new Foreign Contribution Regulation Bill – 2007 is already tabled in the parliament.  If the bill would get approval then unlike the present FCR registration which would give us a long term approval to get international support for developmental work , if the new bill get approval then we would have to bow to Govt offices after every five years, which would result in shrinking of our democratic space and also increase pressure by government officials and politicians.   The new bill would prohibit us to get support for more than 5 years, considering red-tapism in our Govt system, could lessen the period up to 3 years only. 
  Chapter II, Sections 3(1)(g) and (h) of the FCR Bill - 2006 are among the most puzzling portions of the proposed law because they are so starkly at odds with the Government’s policy of opening up the media to foreign ownership.  These provisions would prohibit any association, company, correspondent or editor “engaged in the production or broadcast of audio/audio-visual news or current affairs programmes through any electronic mode” from receiving foreign contributions. This represents an expansion of the scope of the FCRA, which already prohibits correspondents, columnists, cartoonists, editors, owners, printers, and publishers of registered newspapers from receiving foreign contributions.
  With the above mentioned reference and an advertisement published in Times of India, Delhi on 19th Feb, Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee which is examining the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 1976 and the FCR Bill 2006 has invited suggestions from the People of India and last date to submit our views and suggestions about the undemocratic FCR Bill 2006 is 19 March 2007.  
   
  We can submit your suggestions, appeal to the address mentioned below, before 19th March 2007.   Along with the hard copies of the letter we can also send electronic appeal to rsc-ha at sansad.nic.in , rohtas at sansad.nic.in .  (It would be better if we use both forms of communication) 
   
  Those desirous of submitting memoranda to the Committee may also contact Shri Rohtas, Under Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi-110001 {Tele: 23034252 (O)} within 30 days (as given in the newspaper), indicating whether they would also be interested in giving oral evidence before the Committee. 
   
  I think, FCR Bill – 2006 would be the most crucial matter and a barrier in the road of CR movement and development sector in India and so we have to submit the suggestions before 18th MARCH 2007
   
  There is a possibility that my perception and interpretation of the bill would wrong, as I am not from the legal stream, and so I welcome your critics, suggestions and guidelines on the above. 
   
  Thanks ! 
   
  With Regards
  Ganesh 
   
   
   
  From:
  Ganesh Puranik
  Pune / Mumbai / Wardha
  (Maharashtra, India) 
   
  puranik_ganesh at yahoo.co.in 

 				
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