KATHMANDU, Nepal-Social Welfare Council (SWC), a sole agency entitled to monitor the activities of the International non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs), in Nepal is scanning the activities of foreign organizations operating in Nepal. SWC was under pressure after the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) recently asked it to scan the activities of INGOs citing the lack of transparency.
During the course of initial investigation, SWC has disclosed that most of INGOs serving in Nepal have failed to summit their annual and other financial details. It is also reported that most of the INGOs have not submitted the details due to lack of motivation on the part of SWC.
Out of 170 INGOs registered in Nepal, more than one hundred have failed to summit financial reports almost a year after the end of the fiscal year.
The Social Welfare Act 1992 has it that all the INGOs operating in Nepal after reaching an agreement with SWC must submit expenditure details to SWC within four months of the end of fiscal year.
Out of one hundred INGOs affiliated with the Association of International NGOs (AIN), only three dozen have submitted the audited reports for the fiscal year 2012/2013, an official at the SWC informed to Nepal Mountain Focus.
The official further disclosed that there is no system for regular monitoring and regulation as the INGOs themselves arrange field visits with attractive allowances to the high level officials.
The official complained that the majority of INGOs provide the details only at the time of renewing affiliation though a few submit the reports in time.
In the meantime, commoners have raised the questions over the validity of some of the INGOs working in Nepal.
