Cell to assist organisations with matters of FCRA license
Shillong, Aug 14: An FCRA Cell will be set up in the state Home Department to help various organisations availing foreign contributions to help with their applications and renewals under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
Announcing this after a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the Cell will be established in consultation with the Government of India and will aim to address issues locally instead of forcing organisations to travel to Delhi.
“We will be forming an FCRA Cell within the Home department… This of course will be done in consultation with the government of India,” Sangma said.
Sangma said the purpose of the Cell is to coordinate with the Central government and resolve problems faced by different organisations.
“The purpose of this Cell would be to help in coordination with the Central government to see effective ways the different problems being faced by our different organisations when it comes to renewals and applications can be addressed right here in Shillong itself or in Tura or in Jowai without having to travel to places like Delhi,” he said.
Sangma added that the matter has already been discussed with the Union Home Secretary and that the mechanism being worked out will also involve Government of India officials to provide support from time to time.
The Chief Minister said the government will also take the initiatives to form FCRA Cells in different locations to support the organisations with matters related to FCRA licenses.
Urging political parties to rise above politics on the issue, he said, “It is not about taking credit, it is not about saying I did it, you didn’t do, blaming each other or anybody else. I think there is a lot at stake. I think this is not the time to play politics but it is a time to work together.”
He noted that while monitoring and regulation of foreign currency is a standard procedure, the state must ensure that local organizations are not unduly affected.
Acknowledging government of India’s concerns, he said monitoring and regulating of foreign currency is a natural procedure, which happens throughout the world.
“But while the procedures to monitor and regulate foreign currency, our people should not suffer in terms of them facing difficulties, challenges or their assets being seized,” he said.
To strike the balance between these two needs, he said, the need of the hour is to find a mechanism for regulation, yet not harassing or affecting or damaging the institutions working for the poor people of Meghalaya.
CM slams Cong, lauds UDP
Responding to an allegation by Congress chief Vincent H Pala that the NPP has no option but to support FCRA amendment bill in the Parliament, the Chief Minister said the question of support would come only after the bill is examined by the Joint Parliamentary Committee.
“The question of supporting or not supporting arises only after we see the details of any particular Bill or Act. Now the FCRA has been sent to the JPC,” he said.
Taking a dig the opposition Congress for allegedly not doing enough on the matter, he said, “I don’t know how many times Pala has met the home minister or even asked his leaders to meet and discuss and take up this issue at the home secretary level… One can always criticise anybody else. The question is what have you done?” Sangma said.
He welcomed recent efforts by UDP MLAs and other party leaders who met the Union Home Minister to discuss FCRA.
“I am very happy the other day the UDP MLAs went to meet the home minister and discussed FCRA. I saw other leaders from other political parties going and meeting – that’s really what matters you see,” he said.
Sangma added that the priority for the state government is to ensure the issue is resolved and people are protected.
