Meghalaya CM leads delegation of religious leaders to Union Home Minister over foreign funding law
New Delhi, July 5: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma met Union Home Minister Amit Shah here today, leading a delegation of senior church and community leaders to flag the state’s concerns over the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) and its proposed amendments.
The delegation included representatives from four major religious and community bodies in the state: the Presbyterian Church of India (PCI), the North East India Christian Council (NEICC), the Catholic Archdiocese of Shillong, and the Garo Baptist Convention.
Among those present were Rev. H. L. Myrsing, Moderator of the PCI; Rev. S. C. Diengngan, chairman of the PCI’s FCRA Sub-Committee; Rev. Dr. Meyu Changkiri, General Secretary of the NEICC; Fr. Teiboklang Kharbani, Administrator of the Archdiocese of Shillong; and Durasal R. Marak, Youth Director of the Garo Baptist Convention.
During the meeting, the delegation briefed the Home Minister on how certain FCRA provisions — and the amendments under consideration — could affect religious, educational, charitable and social welfare institutions across Meghalaya. Such institutions run a significant share of the state’s schools, colleges, hospitals and community service programmes, particularly in rural and remote areas that depend heavily on them.
Sangma underscored the institutions’ role in the state’s social and educational fabric, urging the Union Government to weigh Meghalaya’s distinct circumstances when framing FCRA-related policy. He asked that the government ensure genuine public-service institutions are not disrupted by the changes.
