Shillong: Parliament faces a tense conclusion to its monsoon session this Thursday. The Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment Bill remains in limbo. Both the Congress and the ruling NDA issued urgent whips to their members. They must attend from August 10 to 12. Allies in the INDIA bloc received similar orders to stand ready. Nobody wants a surprise move.
Government agendas for Monday’s Business Advisory Committee ignore the Bill. However, recent talks between Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma and Union Home Minister Amit Shah keep the issue alive. The government might still push for a vote on August 12. Officials could also refer the draft to a Joint Parliamentary Committee. This follows pushback from the NPP, the Zoram People’s Movement, and the United States.
Church groups and civil society organizations in Meghalaya and Mizoram fear the proposed law. They claim it threatens vital social services. The controversy centers on a specific clause. It empowers a designated authority to seize assets built with foreign funds if an NGO loses its registration. Critics argue the bill ignores local contributions. "The Bill lacks clear safeguards to protect the domestically funded portions during any state takeover," stakeholders claim.
The Home Ministry insists these asset-vesting rules will only apply prospectively. Still, anxiety runs deep across the Northeast. Nearly 16,000 associations receive roughly Rs 22,000 crore annually. These funds support health and education in remote areas where state reach is limited. Regional leaders want more consultation before any final vote.
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