India

Funding freeze adds to Greenpeace’s woes as more states okay GM trials

By RJ Whitehead

- Last updated on GMT

Greenpeace has been very active in India until recently
Greenpeace has been very active in India until recently

Related tags Genetically modified food

With Greenpeace India reeling after a government-led block to its funding, the number of state governments that have voiced their approval for field trials of genetically-modified crops has grown to eight—a notable success for the new government.

The firm hold and wide influence Greenpeace had over recent years on GM crop cultivation policy has been diminishing under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, himself a strong proponent in pushing biotechnology.

Transgenic field crop trials have taken place in eight states and territories over the last year: Delhi NCR has seen GM mustard trials; Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra and Punjab have also trialled GM maize, while Rajasthan, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh engage in research on non-food GM crops, though the latter has also tested chickpea.

Greenpeace’s very existence in the country is under threat and may have to close down this June, should the blockade of funds ordered by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) continue. 

Last month, MHA froze Greenpeace India’s bank accounts, and blocked its foreign funds from Greenpeace International, claiming the group’s campaigning hinders India’s economic growth and security. 

MHA also cited financial irregularities, which Greenpeace denied, saying the restrictions were an "attempt to silence criticism​”. It has since started to prepare a legal challenge.

Earlier this week, Greenpeace called on the government’s order to be quashed because of the “arbitrary and unconstitutional way the MHA has acted​”. 

Freezing both our national and international bank accounts is beyond the scope of the Foreign Contributions Regulations Act and the jurisdiction of the MHA​,” complained the organisation’s executive director for India.

Since coming to power in May last year, Modi's government has pushed through a series of long-awaited reforms and new policies, making it easier for companies to win approval for new projects.

Greenpeace activists have accused Modi of dismissing environmental rules after industries were allowed by the government to operate closer to protected green zones. 

The government on the other hand, has blamed the environmental group of "stalling development projects​" by protesting against large infrastructure plans.

Foreign-funded NGOs like Greenpeace have been protesting against crop biotechnology for more than a decade in India, beginning when the country’s only permitted commercial GM crop, BT cotton, was still under regulatory validation. 

BT cotton has since been grown exponentially, to the point that India, the world’s largest cotton exporter and second largest grower, recently became the fourth biggest GM producer.

Just five years ago, the commercial planting of the BT brinjal (aubergine) was stopped in India after protests from anti-GM activists. There then followed a series of rulings, challenges, declarations and moratoriums on, of and about GM food crops.

State governments have been given the power of veto on GM crop field trials, and Modi will feel the need to win the states over to secure his stance on GM cultivation.

Recently, agricultural scientists petitioned Modi to lift barriers, including the requirement to seek approval from state governments for field trials once approval has been given by the environment ministry. 

Last year, the government attempted to freeze Greenpeace’s funds with a similar order, only for the Delhi High Court to revoke it by a ruling in favour of the NGO. The court stated at the time that the blockade was carried out “arbitrarily and unconstitutionally​”.

Currently more than 20 states and territories are still exercising their vetoes against GM crop trials.

Related topics Policy Asian tastes South Asia

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