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India demands decade long audit of USAID projects
(MENAFN) India's Foreign Ministry has formally requested that the U.S. Embassy provide a detailed account of all USAID-funded projects in the country over the past ten years, according to a report by the Times of India on Tuesday.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, India’s upper house of parliament, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh stated that the government is seeking information on both expenditures and the entities involved in implementing USAID-backed initiatives. Since these projects are typically managed by non-profit organizations, authorities want a clearer picture of their operations. So far, American officials have not formally responded to the request.
Although some open-source data on USAID projects is available, Singh emphasized that the Indian government expects an official response from the U.S. administration.
Last month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar remarked that USAID was permitted to operate in India “in good faith”, but recent disclosures from the U.S. administration suggested some activities were conducted in bad faith. His comments followed revelations about USAID’s operations, reportedly uncovered by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Jaishankar further noted that the Indian government is now examining NGO contributions and funding sources, stating that “the facts will come out” as investigations progress.
On Tuesday, India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at eight locations tied to USAID activities, including the offices of a fund manager connected to Open Society Foundations, an organization controlled by U.S. billionaire George Soros.
The raids were triggered by the discovery of a $3 million money trail leading to various NGOs. According to India’s Finance Ministry’s 2023-24 annual report, USAID is funding seven ongoing projects in the country, with a total investment of $750 million.
In the most recent fiscal year, USAID allocated $97 million for these initiatives, which span multiple sectors, including agriculture, renewable energy, disaster management, water and sanitation, and healthcare, and are being implemented in collaboration with the Indian government.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, India’s upper house of parliament, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh stated that the government is seeking information on both expenditures and the entities involved in implementing USAID-backed initiatives. Since these projects are typically managed by non-profit organizations, authorities want a clearer picture of their operations. So far, American officials have not formally responded to the request.
Although some open-source data on USAID projects is available, Singh emphasized that the Indian government expects an official response from the U.S. administration.
Last month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar remarked that USAID was permitted to operate in India “in good faith”, but recent disclosures from the U.S. administration suggested some activities were conducted in bad faith. His comments followed revelations about USAID’s operations, reportedly uncovered by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Jaishankar further noted that the Indian government is now examining NGO contributions and funding sources, stating that “the facts will come out” as investigations progress.
On Tuesday, India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at eight locations tied to USAID activities, including the offices of a fund manager connected to Open Society Foundations, an organization controlled by U.S. billionaire George Soros.
The raids were triggered by the discovery of a $3 million money trail leading to various NGOs. According to India’s Finance Ministry’s 2023-24 annual report, USAID is funding seven ongoing projects in the country, with a total investment of $750 million.
In the most recent fiscal year, USAID allocated $97 million for these initiatives, which span multiple sectors, including agriculture, renewable energy, disaster management, water and sanitation, and healthcare, and are being implemented in collaboration with the Indian government.
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