Nagaland CM urges Shah to reconsider FCRA amendments, seeks parliamentary panel review

Kohima, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging him to reconsider proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). Rio expressed concerns that the changes could burden churches and Christian charitable organizations, negatively impacting educational, healthcare, and social welfare programs in the state.

He proposed that the Foreign Contribution Act amendments be reviewed by a parliamentary committee, giving stakeholders an opportunity to present their views. Rio emphasized that such a process would address genuine concerns, remove apprehensions, and build public confidence while safeguarding transparency, accountability, and national interest.

The FCRA amendments, notified in June, require NGOs to select from a predefined list of purposes and areas of operation, excluding proselytization in several eligible categories. Rio's letter to Shah highlighted concerns expressed by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council and the Bishop of Kohima, who cited difficulties faced by churches and associated charitable organizations.

The CM stressed the importance of churches' roles in Nagaland's spiritual, educational, healthcare, and social welfare sectors, particularly in remote areas where they have supported numerous humanitarian and development initiatives. He also addressed reports of Christian organizations' FCRA renewal applications being denied, alleging misuse of funds for religious conversion.

Rio called for a careful, sensitive review of such cases, ensuring that legitimate charitable, educational, healthcare, and social welfare activities are not inadvertently affected by broad or general assumptions.