MPs have called on the authorities to fast-track approvals for donation campaigns by registered charitable societies – especially during Ramadan.
Parliament’s services committee has urged the Labour and Social Development Ministry to introduce a digital system for campaigns, in co-ordination with relevant government bodies.
“Such a system will create a centralised database, ensure transparency in transactions and speed up procedures,” the committee said.
The Labour and Social Development Ministry grants a one-year licence for societies to collect donations. However, each campaign will also have to be approved by other authorities, including the Interior Ministry, the municipalities and the Central Bank of Bahrain.
“It takes up to five months for the Interior Ministry to reply to a campaign request, as they conduct their security checks,” said Parliament’s services committee chairman Ahmed Al Ansari.
“Some campaigns – like an appeal for donations for a critically ill patient – are time-bound and needs to be approved quickly.
“Similar is the case with donations to help the needy during occasions like Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr or Al Adha.
“We understand that tough checks are necessary to ensure funds don’t get misused by terrorists and money launderers, but inordinate delays, extending to months, is unacceptable.
“Security checks could be completed in a day or two as in the case of candidates running for municipal and parliament elections.”
Mr Al Ansari alleged that ‘bureaucratic bottlenecks’ were deterring people with legitimate concerns from approaching licensed charities.
“Citizens who need urgent help are issuing appeals for aid on social media, even though it is not in line with the law,” he claimed.
“It is just a matter of proper communication between official channels and a digital network is the need of the hour.”
Riffa Charity Society vice-president Fouad Awadh stressed the need to ease rules as seeking permits for each and every good cause leads to campaigns losing their importance.
“For example, to get a licence to put up extra collection boxes during Ramadan, we have to seek approvals from the municipalities and police,” Mr Awadh said.
“By the time we receive a green signal, Ramadan is almost over. This, despite us being a licensed society with an elected board and transparent operations.”
Labour Minister Jameel Humaidan told MPs last month that the ministry had partnered with the Interior Ministry and the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) to crack down on violations, if any, and combat terror funding.
According to him, there are 650 registered charity societies in the country, however, only 188 of them were licensed to receive donations in 2021, compared with 218 in 2020.
Mr Humaidan added that the ministry only granted licence after reviewing that their causes were genuine and legal.
Sources told the GDN that the tough procedures have been introduced to ensure legitimacy and proper collections.
“It is more about ensuring that people are not duped into paying for cases that are not genuine or putting money or items in unlicensed boxes that could be misused or stolen by individuals,” said the sources.
“Procedures are being reviewed to ensure charity work is undisrupted and at the same time security is maintained.”
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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