Shillong, Nov 2: In a first outside Delhi, the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 held its stakeholder consultation in Shillong today, a sitting specially requested by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
JPC Chairman Dr Sanjay Jaiswal said Shillong was chosen as the first venue beyond the national capital after CM Sangma urged the panel to directly hear the concerns of Meghalaya and Northeast groups that depend on foreign contributions.
Nearly 40 organisations from Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland and Assam deposed before the committee, including the Archbishop of Guwahati. Of 84 organisations who have shown interest nationally to depose, 40 are from Northeast, Jaiswal said.
Representing Meghalaya churches were Fr Richard Majaw for Catholic Church, Rev Pastor H L Marshing and Dr D R L Nonglait for Presbyterian Church of India, Rev S K Syiemlieh for Church of God and Tony Marak for Baptist Church. Hindu organisations and indigenous faith bodies also participated. Faith-based groups get only 6 percent of the total Rs 22,000 crore foreign funds received in India, Jaiswal noted.
The issues discussed were pointed and practical. The Presbyterian Church told the panel that church land in Meghalaya cannot be taken over without following Autonomous District Council laws. The three-member PCI team led by Rev Socratis Diengngan flagged three major concerns – inordinate delays in FCRA registration and renewal, difficulty in complying with complex rules, and the contentious proposed provision on surrendering assets created from foreign contributions.
The North East India Christian Council and other NGOs raised fears that the proposed amendments could hit minority-run institutions, schools, hospitals and social work that run on foreign aid, and sought simpler compliance and protection for places of worship while balancing national security.
Jaiswal said all suggestions have been noted. “They have given very nice suggestions and we have asked questions which they have to reply to within 15 days,” he said. After examining replies, the committee will draft a final Bill that is “good for everyone”.
Jaiswal said the panel cannot divulge specific suggestions publicly as it has to first place them before Parliament. He said this was the last meeting for Northeast after four weeks notice. The JPC will next hold hearings in Kochi and Chennai to understand ground-level practical problems before finalising its report.
The FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 25 and was referred to JPC after opposition from Christian and other organisations over its provisions.
