Photo Courtesy: nenews
Kohima: The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) wants the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 scrapped. They submitted a formal plea to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio this week. The group represents over 1,600 congregations and nearly 750,000 members. They fear the new law will cripple local humanitarian aid and development projects.
For over a century, churches have funded schools, hospitals, and disaster relief through international partnerships. These groups rely on transparent foreign donations to serve remote, poor areas where local cash is scarce. The NBCC warned that the bill could stifle this vital support system. It may lead to the closure of ministries and the state seizing assets if registrations are cancelled.
The council argued that the government already holds enough power to monitor financial transparency. They claim the new bill reaches far beyond reasonable oversight. "The proposed amendments appeared to go beyond reasonable regulation and could impose excessive restrictions on genuine faith-based and charitable organisations dedicated to public service," the NBCC stated in its representation.
Leadership in Nagaland must act fast. The NBCC pointed to a similar move in Kerala, where the state assembly passed a resolution demanding the bill's withdrawal. They want the Nagaland government to do the same. They also urged officials to check if the bill violates Article 371A, which protects Naga religious and social institutions. The council wants an immediate sit-down between the Centre, state governments, and religious groups before any changes move forward.
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