Shillong: Churches and other faith-based organisations account for only around 6 per cent of the Rs 22,000 crore in foreign contributions received in the country, said Sanjay Jaiswal, chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill.
The JPC was examining practical concerns raised by stakeholders over the proposed FCRA amendments, Jaiswal told reporters after the committee’s consultation here. Opposition parties have alleged that certain provisions of the FCRA Amendment Bill could affect legitimate foreign funding for Christian NGOs and minority-run social welfare and educational institutions. The government, however, has maintained that the proposed legislation is not religion-specific and is aimed at regulating foreign contributions. “We want to have practical solutions to the practical problems being presented before us. Our interest is national interest, and we are listening to all concerned stakeholders before arriving at any conclusion,” Jaiswal said.
At least 20 organisations, mostly belonging to different Churches, besides groups linked to Hindus and indigenous people in the Christian-majority state attended the meeting. Jaiswal said the committee was gathering inputs from various sections to understand the implications of the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. “Out of the Rs 22,000 crore coming into the country as foreign contributions, only around six per cent goes to churches and other faith-based organisations. The remaining amount goes to NGOs and other organisations,” the BJP MP said.
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