Shillong, Aug 6: The Hills State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) youth wing has urged that the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, not be rushed through and instead be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed scrutiny.
In a press statement, the HSPDP youth wing said the union government intends to take up the bill in the current parliamentary session. It expressed serious concern that the legislation could adversely affect educational, healthcare and charitable institutions in Meghalaya.
The youth wing noted that Meghalaya’s progress in education, healthcare and social services has been shaped for over a century by Christian churches, missionary organisations and faith-based institutions. These bodies run schools, colleges, hospitals, orphanages and welfare programmes serving people irrespective of religion, tribe or economic background. “Any legislation capable of adversely affecting the functioning and existence of these institutions is not merely a concern of religious organisations but a matter affecting the larger public interest and the welfare of the people of Meghalaya,” the statement said.
While supporting the objective of transparency in foreign funding, the party said the bill in its present form gives “extraordinary and disproportionate powers” to the executive. It cited a provision for a government-appointed designated authority to take over control and management of foreign contributions and institutional assets if an organisation’s FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered, not renewed, or deemed to have ceased. The party is particularly concerned that the provision would apply even when registration merely expires or renewal is refused, warning that schools, colleges, hospitals and churches built over decades with a mix of foreign and local funding could come under government control due to regulatory issues.
The youth wing also flagged the lack of distinction between assets created from domestic resources and those funded partly by foreign contributions. “Institutions built through the collective sacrifice of local communities may become vulnerable to executive control merely because a portion of their historical funding originated from foreign donors,” it said.
Other concerns raised include the introduction of “deemed cessation” of FCRA registration and the absence of an independent appellate mechanism or adequate hearing before assets are vested, which it said raises questions of natural justice and procedural fairness. The party further objected to vague provisions on proselytisation, saying the lack of a clear definition could lead to arbitrary interpretation and affect institutions engaged in lawful religious, educational and social work.
It added that the bill raises constitutional questions relating to Articles 25, 26, 29 and 30, which guarantee religious freedom and minority rights to establish and administer institutions.
The HSPDP youth wing urged the state government to impress upon the centre that the bill be sent to a JPC for consultation with state governments, churches, minority institutions, civil society, legal experts and stakeholders from the Northeast.
“Such a consultative process would enable Parliament to carefully examine the constitutional implications of the Bill, eliminate provisions capable of unintended hardship, and ensure that the objectives of transparency and accountability are achieved without compromising fundamental rights,” the statement added.
