Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has sanctioned ₹79 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) as assistance to the Missionaries of Charity (MoC).
“Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has sanctioned ₹78.76 lakh from the CMRF to support 13 institutions run by the Missionaries of Charity in the state,” the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said.
Patnaik had asked all district collectors to ensure that no inmate of the institutions run by the Missionaries of Charity suffers, especially from food security and health-related issues.
It must be noted that CM’s action comes despite the fact that Ministry of Home Affairs has refused to renew the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) licence of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity.
FCRA is necessary for the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contributions.
The ministry said in a press release that the organisation’s application was refused for failing to meet the eligibility conditions under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 2010 and Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules 2011.
Bharatiya Janata Party unit in Odisha has slammed the chief minister for providing monetary assistance to organisations that had questionable credentials. BJP leader Sajjan Sharma slammed Naveen Patnaik, saying, “It is known that the MoC-run institutions are involved in shady activities. Religious conversion in the garb of humanitarian activities of the MoC is an open secret.”
