A ‘lifeline’ restored in Rayalaseema: Andhra minister hails FCRA nod for Rural Development Trust

RDT has run hospitals and clinics, supported education, helped people with disabilities, built better homes for the poor, promoted women’s development, encouraged sports, and assisted farmers, said minister S Savitha

Andhra Pradesh minister S Savitha on Tuesday said the Rural Development Trust (RDT), an NGO that works in the Rayalaseema region, has finally got its Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) clearance restored, allowing it to resume full operations.

She described RDT as a well-known organisation that has served the people of Rayalaseema for nearly 50 years. Founded by humanitarians Vicente Ferrer and Anne Ferrer, RDT has run hospitals and clinics, supported education, helped people with disabilities, built better homes for the poor, promoted women’s development, encouraged sports, and assisted farmers — all in some of the driest and most challenging parts of Andhra Pradesh, Savitha said.

The minister, who holds several portfolios including Backward Classes Welfare, claimed that during the previous YSRCP government in the state, the NGO had faced serious difficulties with the renewal of its FCRA clearance, and that there had been attempts, which she said were strongly opposed by her TDP, to take over land that belonged to the RDT.

Savitha said the issue was brought to the attention of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh eight months ago by public representatives from the region. Both leaders immediately took the matter seriously and assured that they would raise it at the highest level with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, she said, adding, “The people of Rayalaseema have seen the good work of RDT for decades.”

The restoration of FCRA clearance means RDT can once again receive the support it needs to serve the downtrodden and weaker sections without interruption, Savitha said.

Meanwhile, the Centre has recently approved the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026, which tightens regulations on foreign-funded NGOs. The amendment empowers the government to seize the assets of NGOs whose licences are revoked or not renewed. It also makes trustees, partners, and governing body members directly liable for any violations under the Act.

Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance. Expertise and Experience Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues: High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules. Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes. Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak. Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More

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Andhra Pradesh minister S Savitha on Tuesday said the Rural Development Trust (RDT), an NGO that works in the Rayalaseema region, has finally got its Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) clearance restored, allowing it to resume full operations.

She described RDT as a well-known organisation that has served the people of Rayalaseema for nearly 50 years. Founded by humanitarians Vicente Ferrer and Anne Ferrer, RDT has run hospitals and clinics, supported education, helped people with disabilities, built better homes for the poor, promoted women’s development, encouraged sports, and assisted farmers — all in some of the driest and most challenging parts of Andhra Pradesh, Savitha said.

The minister, who holds several portfolios including Backward Classes Welfare, claimed that during the previous YSRCP government in the state, the NGO had faced serious difficulties with the renewal of its FCRA clearance, and that there had been attempts, which she said were strongly opposed by her TDP, to take over land that belonged to the RDT.

Savitha said the issue was brought to the attention of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh eight months ago by public representatives from the region. Both leaders immediately took the matter seriously and assured that they would raise it at the highest level with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, she said, adding, “The people of Rayalaseema have seen the good work of RDT for decades.”

The restoration of FCRA clearance means RDT can once again receive the support it needs to serve the downtrodden and weaker sections without interruption, Savitha said.

Meanwhile, the Centre has recently approved the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026, which tightens regulations on foreign-funded NGOs. The amendment empowers the government to seize the assets of NGOs whose licences are revoked or not renewed. It also makes trustees, partners, and governing body members directly liable for any violations under the Act.