SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has underscored the need for a balanced approach to regulating foreign funding while safeguarding legitimate developmental work.
He asserted that the National People’s Party (NPP) took the early lead in addressing concerns regarding the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) with the Union government.
Sangma recalled that when the legislation was first introduced, the NPP was the only political party to proactively engage the central leadership, spearheading a delegation alongside the President and Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) to meet Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.
He noted that, at that time, no other party had directly engaged with Cabinet ministers on the issue.
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Sangma later led another delegation from Meghalaya to meet the Union Home Minister and further press the matter—a move that subsequently encouraged other Chief Ministers and political organizations to follow suit.
He clarified that the NPP’s intervention was motivated not by political ambition, but by its alignment with social and religious institutions that had expressed significant concerns over the proposed legislative changes.
Expressing gratitude to the Central Government for referring the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), Sangma voiced confidence that the committee would thoroughly evaluate and address the grievances raised by NGOs, churches, and religious bodies.
Emphasizing the broader policy objective, the Chief Minister highlighted the importance of striking a balance between regulating foreign currency inflows and protecting the vital public service contributions of bona fide institutions—ensuring that oversight does not create undue operational obstacles for genuine social welfare activities across the country.
(4FrontMedia news)
