New Delhi, Sep 25: The Union Home Ministry has cancelled the FCRA licence of the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), founded by prominent climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, effective immediately. The ministry’s order pointed to several discrepancies in SECMOL’s financial records, including questionable fund transfers from foreign sources.
SECMOL was initially granted the licence to accept foreign contributions for cultural and educational initiatives. However, ongoing scrutiny revealed potential violations that could threaten national interests, prompting the ministry’s decisive action.
According to sources, the ministry’s decision followed a detailed examination of the organisation’s finances. This review highlighted a problematic fund transfer from Sweden amounting to around Rs 4.93 lakh. The funds were earmarked for raising youth awareness on issues like migration, climate change, and organic farming. However, the ministry deemed these contributions unsatisfactory, claiming they contradicted the national interest.
In addition to concerns over foreign contributions, SECMOL is under investigation for various irregularities within its financial dealings. Earlier, the ministry issued a show-cause notice citing suspected violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). These issues included an alleged improper deposit of Rs 3.5 lakh into the organisation’s FCRA account during the financial year 2021-22.
Wangchuk contended that this amount was derived from the sale of an old bus previously purchased with FCRA funds and insisted that proceeds from such assets must be deposited back into the FCRA account, as per the regulations.
However, the ministry disputes this claim, arguing that the funds were received in cash, which is not consistently disclosed by SECMOL. Furthermore, another sum of Rs 3.35 lakh, claimed by SECMOL as foreign contributions from Wangchuk himself, reportedly did not appear in official records. This discrepancy represents a potential breach of section 18 of the FCRA, which governs the registration of foreign contributions.
Additional considerations arise from a transfer of Rs 54,600 claimed to be a mistake in the categorization of local funds within the FCRA accounts. The ministry’s ongoing scrutiny reveals wider implications, suggesting a pattern of financial mismanagement that could affect SECMOL’s operational integrity.
Rejecting SECMOL’s defenses, the ministry firmly stated that funding for research on the sovereignty of the nation, even under the guise of educational initiatives, could not be accommodated within acceptable parameters of national interest.
In reaction to the cancellation, Sonam Wangchuk voiced strong concerns, alleging government attempts to fabricate a case against him capable of resulting in severe legal repercussions. He has been vocal in advocating for statehood and constitutional protections for Ladakh, making his position both critical and visible in ongoing discussions surrounding the region’s political future.
“I see they are building up a case to bring me under the Public Safety Act and throw me in jail for two years,” Wangchuk stated during a press conference. He further expressed his readiness to face imprisonment, asserting that his presence in jail could lead to more significant issues for the government than if he remained free.
The cancellation of SECMOL’s FCRA licence raises serious questions about the future of the organisation and its capacity to operate. It also highlights the government’s increasing scrutiny of foreign contributions to NGOs operating in sensitive regions like Ladakh. As SECMOL deliberates its next steps, the ramifications of this governmental decision emphasize the ongoing tension between activist movements and regulatory frameworks in India.
