Fgn entities under govt watch Asked To Provide Details Of Employees At Regular Intervals

New Delhi: All foreign companies and organizations, including NGOs, that have offices in India will be under close watch as they will have to mandatorily provide details of employees, including those engaged to liaison work, to the Union home ministry at regular intervals. 

    Although such details of employees are provided when visas are sought, foreign companies will now have to give particulars of specific nature of work and 'contacts' in various ministries or public sector undertakings (PSUs) to the government once a year. 

    The government's circular is being read in the backdrop of controversies over foreign nationals participating in political activities like protests against Indian nuclear projects at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu and Jaitapur in Maharashtra. 

    The Union home ministry circular seeking the details comes close on the heels of its investigation into the involvement of foreign NGOs and the allegation that the money they sent to Indian entities in Tamil Nadu was used to sustain the protest against the Kudankulam nuclear power project. 

    "The allegation that some foreign entities were also involved in funding Indian NGOs for fanning agitations, like the one at Kudankulam nuclear project in Tamil Nadu, has also highlighted the need for such a direction from the government," said an official. 

    He said the circular has been sent to various ministries, including the ministry of communication, asking them to ensure security clearance before foreign entities set up liaison, branches or project offices in India. 

    The ministry has come out with a fresh two-page form which all foreign entities are required to fill. The form seeks details of the employees working with the Indian office, bessides asking them to provide details of foreign nationals who had visited India from that firm.