NEW DELHI — Following its 2020 success in significantly reducing foreign funding for civil society, the Centre announced it will introduce a new amendment to directly control the Rs 22,000 crore received annually by 16,000 NGOs. The move is designed to ensure that funds meant for humanitarian efforts are safely diverted away from any organization that might engage in what the state classifies as "anti-development activities."

"It is simply too dangerous to let independent organizations use foreign money for unregulated education and healthcare," said a ministry spokesperson, speaking loudly to be heard over opposition protests regarding police actions during the July 20 'Sansad Chalo' march. "By appointing a 'designated authority' to seize the assets of cancelled NGOs, we can guarantee these thousands of crores are managed by the only entity we trust to never criticize our policies."

The legislation builds upon the 2020 Foreign Contribution Regulation Act amendment, which successfully choked off funding by prohibiting the transfer of money between NGO accounts. Officials noted that after previous attempts to pass the current bill were deferred in March due to civil society objections, the state recognized the urgent need to acquire the legal authority to unilaterally defund the people objecting.

"The public must be protected from the irreparable harm of independent charity," the spokesperson added, declining to answer whether the bill's timing was meant to distract from recent corruption allegations linked to Ram temple donations, and instead tapping a fresh stack of blank cancellation notices.