JAC urges MPs to restore FCRA funds for RDT services

Andhra Pradesh: Citing the threat to critical rural services across 3,500 villages, the Anantapur and Sri Sathya Sai District RDT JAC has appealed to local MPs to push for the renewal of FCRA registration for the Rural Development Trust (RDT), whose operations have stalled since 2021 due to halted foreign funding.

RDT’s five-decade legacy of rural upliftment at risk

Established in 1969, the Rural Development Trust (RDT) has been a pillar of progress in Anantapur and Sri Sathya Sai districts for over 56 years. Its contributions span education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, women’s empowerment, and support for the disabled.

The organization has built schools, check dams, solar energy systems, and housing for the underprivileged, and has drilled agricultural borewells to aid farmers. Specialized programs for the deaf and differently-abled have also been implemented.

Foreign funding halted since 2021 due to FCRA issues

Despite its widespread impact, the RDT’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration was not renewed in 2021, leading to a complete halt in access to central foreign funds. The JAC warned that this has put thousands of employees at risk and threatens to shut down services in over 3,500 villages.

JAC appeals to Anantapur and Hindupur MPs for intervention

In letters addressed to Anantapur MP Ambika Lakshminarayana and Hindupur MP BK Parthasarathy, the Joint Action Committee urged immediate action to escalate the issue to the Central Government. The JAC emphasized that the future of numerous rural development programs in Telugu states now hinges on this intervention.

“The RDT has been the backbone of rural development for decades. Stopping its funding not only affects livelihoods but cripples essential community services,” the JAC stated.

Call for central government’s cooperation and justice

The JAC has called for the Central Government’s cooperation in ensuring the FCRA license is renewed and justice is done to the thousands relying on RDT’s services. Without timely action, they warn, decades of developmental gains could be undone.

“This is not just a funding issue—it’s a humanitarian and developmental emergency,” the appeal concluded.

JAC Convener Saake Hari, along with other members of the Joint Action Committee B Shankar Reddy, Sugamanchi Srinivasulu, Y Krishna Reddy, P Suryanarayana and B Surendra personally met and submitted memorandums to the Members of Parliament.