Mary Kom's Boxing NGO suspected of violating foreign funding laws

Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned up to inaugurate Mary Kom's boxing Academy, one of the NGOs set up by the Boxing star and Olympic medalist has come under scrutiny for allegedly violating foreign funding norms. There are 42 organisations that have reportedly come under fire by the Home Ministry include some major names like the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust, and the top administrative body for India's IT industry NASSCOM are among 42 organisations which were inquired into. The Mary Kom Regional Boxing Foundation was established in 2006 long before the boxer herself came into the public limelight. It was set up by Kom and her husband K Onler to promote boxing among a class of youth who may not have had access to it otherwise. The NGO predominantly carried out its working in the state of Manipur and other parts of NorthEast India. Given that boxing is a major part of the culture of the Northeastern States, the organisation has often been lauded for its efforts. The Union Minister of Sate for Home, Shri Kiren Rijiju elaborated in the Lok Sabha about how 21 NGOs had been served with a standard questionnaire about their funding. In addition to the organisations mentioned above, Asianet New Charitable Trust, Kerala, Amnesty International (India) Foundation were also served with similarly probing papers. The audit reports were driven to the conclusion that the NGOs have received foreign funding and this was how the inquiry was initiated; under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. This will come as a setback to the 2012 London Olympics Bronze medalist and Padma Bhushan awardee who has for long enjoyed favour within the Central Governing bodies. She has also carried with her a brand of dignity and respect while being completely devoted to her sport. In fact, the nominated Rajya Sabha MP Mary Kom will come under even more severe fire if the questionnaire and consequent scrutiny leads to some real revelations. For now, details are awaited.