Bodh Gaya

Gaya, April 8: The Magadh division commissioner, K.P. Rammaiah, has slapped notices on nearly 24 Bodh Gaya non-government organisations (NGO).

Most of these groups “work” in fields of education, health, women’s empowerment, child development, environment and animal care and receive generous funding from foreign sources. Earlier, state vigilance department referred complaints against the NGOs before the Magadh commissioner for a follow up.

The notice served on the groups seeks details of the nature of their operations, source of funds, registration details, land ownership, audit reports and list of beneficiaries. The NGOs at the receiving end include some popular names such as Samanvay Ashram and Mahabodhi Society of India.

Whereas Dwarko Sundrani, a Gandhian, heads the Samanvay Ashram, industrialist B.K. Modi heads Mahabodhi Society of India.

It is not for the first time that the two NGOs have been under the official scanner. A few years ago a functionary of the Mahabodhi Society was jailed on charges of fraud and misappropriation of funds.

Samanvay Ashram, too, was in the centre of controversy when ashram chief, Dwarko Sundrani, was removed from the post of the secretary of Bodh Gaya Temple Committee after reportedly being indicted in a magisterial inquiry. Other NGOs include, People First, Sujata Children Welfare Foundation and Muskan Viklang Trust. Complaints against the NGOs state that they indulge in allegedly questionable financial transactions. While, complaints stet that a few “obtained” prime land in a fraudulent manner.

The land, it was further said, belonged to the prohibited category including those settled with landless people and other disadvantaged sections.

Apart from Rammaiah, activist Arup Brahmachari has also launched a campaign against the NGOs and has “exposed” some them.

Bodh Gaya is regarded as “easy” ground by organisations as Buddhism followers from across the world show interest in doing charity here. Besides the NGOs, the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee has also been asked to reveal its funding and expenditure details.