The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has granted a Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration to ‘His Holiness the Dalai Lama Charitable Trust’ for “religious” purposes, among others. FCRA registration is a mandatory requirement to receive foreign funds.
An official with the Trust said that the NGO is not directly linked with the spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, but is associated with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), which looks after the welfare of the Tibetan community in India. The CTA is headquartered in Himachal Pradesh’s Dharamsala.
The Trust, registered in Delhi, had applied for the renewal of an existing FCRA registration, the official said. However, MHA data shows that a fresh registration was granted.
Religious purposes included
The Trust was granted an FCRA registration for the purpose of undertaking a “religious (Buddhist)” programme, along with cultural, economic, social, and educational activities. To receive FCRA registration, an NGO must have a definite cultural, social, religious, economic, or educational programme. It can be registered under one or multiple categories.
According to its website, the Trust maintains a liaison with the Government of India, foreign embassies, consulates, NGOs, civil society groups and other important national and international bodies on behalf of the CTA.
Supporting Tibetan refugees
In 1959, thousands of Tibetans arrived in India along with the Dalai Lama in the face of the Chinese occupation of Tibet. The Indian government provided asylum as well as assistance towards temporary settlement. Per the 2022 census conducted by the CTA, there are 63,167 Tibetan refugees in India.
The Foundation for Universal Responsibility, another non-profit that was founded in 1990 with the funds from the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Dalai Lama, is also registered under the FCRA.
In 2015, the BJP-led government at the Centre sanctioned ₹40 crore to the Central Tibetan Relief Committee which is part of the CTA, to provide aid to Tibetan refugees. The scheme was extended in 2022 for another five years.