Leh, September 26: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has cancelled the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO, Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), with immediate effect, citing multiple violations of the Act and misuse of foreign funds.
According to the cancellation order issued on Thursday, SECMOL had been served a show-cause notice on August 20, 2025, followed by a reminder on September 10. The NGO submitted its response on September 19, which the MHA examined before concluding that several violations had been committed.
The ministry alleged that during FY 2021-22, ₹3.35 lakh was deposited in the FCRA account of SECMOL in contravention of Section 17 of the Act. While the NGO claimed it was the sale proceeds of a bus purchased from FCRA funds in 2015, the MHA found discrepancies in the disclosures, noting that the transaction was not properly reflected in the official FCRA account.
Similarly, in FY 2020-21, ₹54,600 of local funds were allegedly deposited in the FCRA account, which the NGO admitted was mistakenly credited by Indian volunteers instead of being placed in the local account.
The ministry further pointed to foreign donations worth ₹4.93 lakh from a Swedish organization for workshops on climate change, migration, food security, and sovereignty. While SECMOL argued the funds were used strictly for educational activities, the MHA held that accepting foreign contributions for research or study on “sovereignty of the nation” was against national interest, violating Section 12(4) of the Act.
Other flagged irregularities included the return of ₹19,600 to a foreign donor, which is not permitted under FCRA provisions, and misreporting of ₹79,200 deducted directly from staff salaries and stipends, which the ministry said indicated poor account maintenance and violations of Sections 18 and 19 of the Act.
“In view of the violations… the FCRA registration certificate of SECMOL is hereby cancelled with immediate effect,” the order stated, adding that the decision was taken with the approval of the competent authority under Section 14 of the FCRA, 2010.
The cancellation bars SECMOL from receiving any foreign contributions henceforth. The NGO, founded by Sonam Wangchuk, is known for its educational and cultural initiatives in Ladakh and has been widely recognized for its role in alternative education.
