The Mizoram government has requested the Centre to refer the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, or FCRA Amendment Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for wider consultations with all stakeholders before it is finalised.
The proposed amendment seeks to tighten monitoring of organisations receiving foreign donations and proposes setting up a special Designated Authority’ The authority is proposed to be empowered to take over, manage or sell the assets of any non-profit organisation if its FCRA licence expires, is not renewed, or is suspended or cancelled.
Concern in Christian-majority Northeastern states
This proposed provision has raised concerns in the Christian-majority states of the Northeast as churches and other voluntary organisations there are largely dependent on foreign funding.
In Mizoram, churches and civil society organisations fear that if an FCRA licence is cancelled, assets and institutions built with foreign donations could come under government control.
After meeting the Union Home Minister, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma said their concerns and suggestions regarding the proposed law were placed before him. A memorandum has also been submitted to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs According to them, referring the Bill to a JPC would allow for a detailed review of the concerns and suggestions of people across the country and various stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the Council of Churches in Mizoram has called for a protest march in Aizawl on 11 August followed by a public programme.
Concerns raised in Meghalaya*
senior BJP leader and MLA from Meghalaya, has also expressed concern over the proposed amendment. He said verbal assurances are not enough. He stressed the need for clear legal provisions and neutral, fair implementation to ensure that charitable and religious institutions can continue their work without uncertainty.
While there is no objection to the need for transparency and accountability for every institution receiving foreign funds, Hek said the law must also take into account the long-standing contribution of NGOs, missionary organisations and Christian institutions that have been running schools, hospitals, old-age homes, leprosy treatment centres and various social services in remote and tribal areas. He added that the language of the law must be clear and applied equally and without discrimination. Hek said he has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah about his concerns.
Leader of Opposition in Meghalaya, Mukul Sangma fears that if the amendment is implemented in its current form, it could have far-reaching consequences for institutions involved in education, healthcare and other key social services. According to Sangma, the impact will not be limited to Meghalaya and could disrupt the work of welfare institutions across the country.
He said many institutions in Meghalaya have been serving the people of the state for over a century and have depended on donations from international agencies covered under FCRA. While acknowledging the need for regular government monitoring of foreign donations, Sangma questioned how reasonable it is to suddenly force institutions to submit detailed accounts of documents that authorities have never questioned for years.
He added that human error or some gaps in record-keeping over the years are inevitable, and warned that such gaps could be used to target any institution.
