Within 96 hours of inauguration by PM Narendra Modi, boxing icon Mary Kom’s academy near Imphal is in trouble. The NGO has been accused of flouting FCRA guidelines.
The Mary Kom Regional Boxing Foundation is among 42 organizations facing inquiry by the Ministry of Home Affairs for alleged violations of FCRA rules.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said in Lok Sabha that 21 NGOs were served with a standard questionnaire which includes Mary Kom Regional Boxing Foundation, Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust, Asianet New Charitable Trust and Amnesty International (India) Foundation.
Rijiju said, replying to a written question in Lok Sabha, that audit and inspection completed in cases of 21 other NGOs like Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, Delhi, NASSCOM, Delhi and Public Health Foundation of India.
He said the NGOs have received foreign funding and the inquiry was initiated under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.
Mary Kom Regional Boxing Foundation was registered and established as a charitable trust in 2006. It was a pioneering initiative by 2012 London Olympics Bronze medalist, Padma Bhushan awardee and nominated Rajya Sabha MP MC Mary Kom and her husband K Onler with the aim to promote boxing amongst underprivileged youth in Manipur and other parts the Northeastern India.
Located at the foot of Langol hills in Manipur’s Imphal West district, Mary Kom’s Boxing Academy, spread across 3.3 acres, is around 10 km from the center of state capital Imphal. It currently houses 45 young boxers, including 20 girls, at the three-storey building.
Despite repeated attempts, Northeast Now reporters could not speak to Mary Kom on the issue.