Chennai: The Union government proposed to amend the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) with a view to prevent the 'misuse' or diversion of foreign funds received by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Union Minister of State for Home Vidyasagar Rao said on January 11.

Under the proposed amendments, district collectors would oversee the working of these agencies. They would cancel the registration of those NGOs found diverting funds, he told reporters.

Rao said that in 2000-2001, voluntary agencies received Rs 4,535.23 crore as aid from abroad. There was a hike of 15.56 per cent over this figure in 2001-2002, but the final compilation of figures was still on, he said.

He said Tamil Nadu stood first in receipt of funds from other nations, followed by New Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra, during the period 1991-2001. Voluntary agencies in the state had received Rs 572.51 crore as aid.

Rao, who visited some Sri Lankan Tamil refugee camps in Ramanathapuram and Madurai districts on January 11, said most refugees had expressed willingness to go back to Sri Lanka. Officials had been instructed to extend all help to enable these persons return to their homeland, the Minister said.

There were 87,446 Sri Lankan nationals in 23 districts in Tamil Nadu, of whom 69,098 were in refugee camps, he said, adding that the Centre had spent Rs 298 crore on them from 1983.

He said the Home Ministry was taking steps to publish a 'white paper' on Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) activities in the country. However, he declined to say when it would be done.

PTI