'This is a half-baked plan which is bound to fail'

INTERVIEW

S P Udayakumar, teacher, writer and anti-nuclear activist from Tamil Nadu, spearheaded a people's movement against the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in the state. His People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) led a prolonged protest against the project. Udaykumar, who worked as a professor at Monmouth University, New Jersey, USA, spoke to R Sathyanarayana of Deccan Herald. Excerpts:

How do you view the Centre's proposal to amend the Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules (FCRR)?

This is a half-baked plan which is bound to fail. This kind of requirement is vague and could be interpreted in many ways and will always lead to a powerful government controlling the weak NGOs. The government can and should make sure that the funds received are utilised for the specific projects that are submitted by the NGOs. There are so many efficient ways to do that. The present intimidatory and controlling mechanism will not work.

This is not the first attempt by govt to regulate NGOs foreign funds. What do you think are the reasons for the government targeting NGOs?

The government is not serious and efficient in regulating the NGOs receiving foreign funds. The whole operation takes place in New Delhi which is far removed from the theatres of action managed by Delhi bureaucrats who hardly know anything about the various corners of India, the needs of the people, the work of the NGOs. This FCRA work has to be decentralised and managed in district headquarters and state capitals where NGOs, beneficiaries, donors and the government can come together and do a much better job.

The govt targets NGOs to hide its own inefficiency and to blame the people for the problems in the country. The Congress government and the BJP government turn a blind eye towards the NGOs run by their ministers, politicians and friends. The government targets NGOs run by minorities intellectuals and activists who make people think and act.

Will this new proposal affect your ongoing protest against Kudankulam project? Do
you receive any foreign funds for your organisation?

Not at all. We have not received even a single rupee from any Indian or foreign NGO and we will not receive any such funds in the future also. We have been operating with people's donations and will continue to do so. Even now, we are acting vigorously and will continue to do so with our hard work and people's support.

I do not receive any foreign money for any reason. The Trust that I have runs my school and it is not an NGO that undertakes various activities. In Tamil Nadu, a private school can be run only by a Trust, that is why I have one. The movement is funded by the local people, by contributions from the neighbouring villagers, college and school students. Since I have not received even a rupee from any Indian or international organisation for our struggle, I really don't care about the new regulations.

If the Centre imposes the new FCRR rules, what will be your future course of activity? Any protest or legal battle against the Centre's move?

Since this move affects the minorities’ interests, and the activities of well-meaning activists, we will oppose this and join hands with like-minded people. I do not plan to lead any protest.