Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment has allowed inactive non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to submit the necessary documents or face dissolution. The NGOs can submit the documents to the ministry website by May 9, 2023.
Speaking to PSM News, Registrar of NGOs Ali Shakeel said there are 2,500 registered NGOs in the Maldives but only 1,100 are active. As such, he said the ministry has allowed inactive NGOs to submit the necessary documents before they are targeted for dissolution. He said that the government is legally required to dissolve inactive NGOs after the deadline.
The NGO Act ratified earlier this year dictates the policy on dissolving inactive NGOs. As such, the registrar has the authority to require NGOs to submit the necessary documents within 90 days, if they fail to submit the documents two-to-three consecutive times. The registrar also has the authority to order the dissolution of an NGO if it violates the relevant regulations, fails to hold any activity within one year after its formation, or if it fails to form a steering committee.
The registrar is required to publicly request information on any unpaid debt or charges against the NGO prior to ordering its dissolution. If the NGO has incurred debt or is facing charges, the registrar is required to take the issue to court.