Kohima: The Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Tuesday voiced concern over the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), with members warning that tighter regulations could adversely affect churches, charitable institutions and civil society organisations working in the state.
The issue was raised during a discussion on a matter of urgent public importance under Rule 50 of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly during the Ninth Session of the 14th Assembly on Tuesday.
Advisor for SCERT and Food Processing, Achumbemo Kikon, who initiated the discussion, said the proposed amendments could introduce stringent regulatory measures, including cancellation of registrations and possible government control over assets created wholly or partly through foreign contributions.
Highlighting Nagaland’s unique social context, Kikon said churches and church-affiliated organisations had historically played a significant role in education, healthcare, social welfare, poverty alleviation and community development.
He referred to concerns raised by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), the North East India Christian Council (NEICC) and other church bodies, particularly over the renewal of FCRA registrations and the proposed powers of the designated authority.
Kikon urged the Centre to ensure natural justice, due process and adequate opportunity for organisations to present their views. He also called for a broad-based consultation involving state governments, churches, civil society organisations and development agencies before finalising the proposed amendments.
He further called for careful constitutional scrutiny of the proposed legislation in view of Article 371A and its provisions relating to religious and social practices in Nagaland.
Advisor Temjenmenba, who also participated in the discussion, highlighted the role of churches and Christian organisations in Nagaland’s social development over more than 150 years.
He said churches had contributed to education, healthcare and social welfare even before modern government institutions reached many remote parts of the state.
While acknowledging the need to regulate foreign contributions, Temjenmenba said transparency, accountability and national security were legitimate concerns. However, he stressed that enforcement of the law should not adversely affect genuine charitable and developmental organisations.
Given the historical role of churches and civil society organisations in Nagaland, he said implementation of the FCRA should take into account the state’s distinct historical, social and developmental circumstances.
MLA Y Mankhao Konyak said the proposed FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026 seeks to establish a legal framework to supervise, manage and dispose of assets if an NGO fails to renew its certificate.
He expressed concern that the proposed provisions could affect faith-based and charitable organisations involved in education, healthcare, disaster relief and poverty alleviation, particularly those operating in remote and economically weaker regions.
Konyak said there were concerns over the possible confiscation or takeover of assets and properties, as well as increased central oversight of minority and independent welfare organisations.
He said many institutions run by Christian organisations, including schools, hospitals and homes for destitute people, had contributed significantly to the country’s development and could be among those most affected.
Konyak also questioned the clarity of the proposed renewal mechanism, saying the Bill did not provide a sufficiently transparent and well-defined procedure for renewing FCRA certificates.
He said the absence of a second opportunity for organisations that failed to renew their certificates within the stipulated period raised concerns over the availability of an appeal mechanism.
“If the Bill is to be amended, it should provide a simple, affordable, transparent and clear procedure for renewal of the FCRA certificate,” he said.
MLA Kudecho Khamo said the proposed amendments could impose additional regulatory burdens on churches, charitable institutions and civil society organisations, particularly smaller organisations engaged in humanitarian, educational, healthcare and community development activities.
While acknowledging the government’s objectives of transparency, financial accountability and national security, Khamo urged that the legitimate contributions and interests of churches and charitable organisations be protected.
He called for continued consultation with stakeholders and urged the Centre to consider their concerns while examining the proposed legislation, while upholding the principles of justice, equality and secularism.
MLA P Longon also participated in the discussion.
Concluding the discussion, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said the proposed FCRA amendments had generated widespread concern among various sections of society, particularly the Christian community in the state.
Rio said several bodies representing churches and the Christian community had approached him, including through a joint representation, expressing apprehension that the proposed legislation in its present form could adversely affect minorities, charitable institutions and the longstanding tradition of voluntary and humanitarian services provided by such organisations.
He said he had held consultations with Christian leaders to understand their concerns, including during a meeting on August 9 with representatives of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council, the Catholic Church and other church leaders.
According to Rio, the meeting highlighted the challenges faced by churches and Christian organisations in carrying out humanitarian and social services.
The chief minister noted the historic contribution of churches and Christian organisations to Nagaland, particularly in education, healthcare, social welfare, livelihood support and assistance to disadvantaged sections of society.
He said activities undertaken by churches and charitable institutions, especially in remote and difficult areas, had been substantially supported through legitimate foreign partnerships and assistance.
“While increasingly stringent regulations and compliance requirements under the FCRA have already placed significant financial and administrative burdens on charitable organisations, the proposed amendments are likely to further compound these challenges,” Rio said.
He expressed concern that the proposed changes could affect ongoing programmes in education, healthcare and social services, particularly those benefiting vulnerable and economically disadvantaged communities.
Rio said the concerns were particularly acute in Nagaland, where many institutions operate at the grassroots level with limited resources while serving people in remote areas.
Referring to cases where applications for renewal of FCRA registration had reportedly been denied or subjected to prolonged processing, Rio cited the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa, as an example.
He noted that the organisation’s FCRA registration renewal was denied in 2021 but was subsequently renewed following public concern and review.
Rio stressed that FCRA registration and renewal cases should be examined objectively and individually, particularly where organisations had complied with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.
Given Nagaland’s distinct social and geographical context, he said charitable and social welfare activities should not be adversely affected by broad or generalised assessments.
The chief minister also highlighted the role of churches and Christian organisations in providing humanitarian assistance during natural calamities, disasters and emergencies. He cited their relief work for people affected by floods in the region and their contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rio further highlighted the historical links between churches and Christian organisations in Nagaland and their counterparts abroad, saying these relationships had contributed to philanthropy and charitable activities benefiting weaker sections of society.
He said the contribution of Christian missionaries and institutions to Nagaland’s development predated the formation of the state and continued through some of its most difficult and isolated periods.
“Their services helped bring literacy, modern education and healthcare to generations of our people and contributed significantly towards social progress and human development,” Rio said, adding that the same contribution extended to the rest of the country.
Rio also acknowledged the responsibility of the Government of India to ensure transparency, accountability and compliance with laws governing foreign contributions.
“However, it is equally necessary to ensure that genuine charitable, educational, healthcare, community and social institutions which have rendered exemplary service to the nation for generations are not adversely affected or placed under undue uncertainty,” he said.
Rio informed the Assembly that following his August 9 meeting with church leaders, he had written to the Union Home Minister conveying concerns over the proposed FCRA amendments in the context of Nagaland’s distinct social, historical and developmental circumstances.
He said he had urged the Centre to subject the proposed amendments to greater scrutiny and consider the concerns raised by organisations representing the Christian community across the country.
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The chief minister also welcomed the decision to refer the Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), saying this would allow its provisions to be examined comprehensively and provide an opportunity for concerned stakeholders to present their views.
“I am confident that the JPC will provide an opportunity to address genuine concerns, remove apprehensions and build greater public confidence in the proposed regulatory framework,” Rio said.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to engaging with stakeholders and the Government of India to ensure that the legitimate concerns of churches, Christian organisations and other institutions are duly considered.
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