The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) Bill is a legislative proposal that ensures that
the funds are not used against the national interest by regulating the receipt of foreign donations
by organizations in India. The Bill introduces the concept of ‘designated authority’ appointed by
the Union government. It will have provisional check over funds and if an NGO’s license is
cancelled or lapsed. It also prohibited the distribution of foreign funds to other organizations.
The regulations have been made stricter. It also focusses on misuse. This bill proposed after the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) about “undue interference” in minority
institutions. But the question raises are this bill is only to check the funding in favors of national
interest or an attempt to target minorities especially in South India and how BJP plays role in
that?
The FCRA Bill has sparked an intense concern about minorities rights in South India. The Bill
grants the Centre absolute power to confiscate the assets of minority NGOs. It is also alarming
for the social service organizations of the Christian and Muslim minorities in South India states
specially Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Since 2014, over 21,933 FCRA licenses have been
cancelled, and the minorities in South India have borne the brunt.
Devastating Impact of Bill on Minorities in South India:
In South India, thousands of Christian and Muslim NGOs are running schools, hospitals, and
Dalit-tribal welfare organizations. The Bill is now putting them in danger of being shut down. In
the state of Tamil Nadu, the number of FCRA licenses is over 6,700, and the state tops the list
with 2,580 cancelled licenses, the highest in the country.
“Over 68% of the cancelled licenses are from organizations working among the marginalized
communities.” The FCRA Bill is now putting the constitutional provisions under Articles 25-30
in danger of being undermined, as the NGOs are being treated as government agencies.
BJP majoritarian agenda exposed:
Since 2014, BJP and the center govt using this against minorities. The 2020 amendments to the
FCRA Act have prohibited administrative costs above 20% and the practice of sub-granting. The
2026 FCRA Bill now grants the Centre the power to term any NGO critical of the Centre as
“anti-national.” The majoritarian agenda is being criticized on these points discussed below:
- For silencing the voices exposing atrocities against minorities.
- For promoting the Hindutva agenda by denying funds to Christian and Muslim NGOs.
- For ignoring the fact that most FCRA suspensions are against states ruled by parties other
than the BJP.
Congress leader K.C. Venugopal said, “This FCRA Bill is the sword of Damocles hanging over
the minorities”. The CPM and the Church in Kerala are also echoing the same, saying that the
Centre is planning to steal the NGOs’ assets, especially in the backdrop of the upcoming state
polls.
How Christian Charities Strangled in Tamil Nadu:
- Tamil Nadu was the worst affected in the FCRA crackdown. In February 2024, Tamil Nadu
- Social Service Society (TNSSS), one of the largest Christian charities lost its FCRA license for
- “violations.” TNSSS provided health camps, educational institutions, and relief to Dalits and
- fisherfolk affected by natural calamities in coastal Tamil Nadu. Because of this, over 4 lakhs lost
- support.
- Schools and orphanages faced a cash crunch.
- Hundreds lost their jobs as the staff was laid off.
2,580 cancellations are just from BJP. Many Christian charities were found to be involved in
conversion without proof. The FCRA Bill claims to take over all the assets of these charities.
How think tanks in Karnataka are being targeted:
The license of the Indian Social Institute in Bengaluru, was cancelled in February 2024. The
journal focuses on the policies concerning the minorities, including the NEP 2020 and ethnic
violence in Manipur, as it talks about factual and critical articles on the rights of the Dalits and
justice and fairness in society After the cancellation:
- Research on marginalized communities has stopped.
- Foreign grants for training programmes have ended.
- More than 100 grassroots partners were affected.
In Karnataka, 1,085+ cancellations are done. The FCRA would render such research and
evaluation impossible, compelling NGOs to either self-censor or close down.
Larger Consequences for South Indian Minorities:
The FCRA Bill is hastening the process of the BJP’s centralization drive. South Indian states are
likely to face direct interference in social welfare schemes. The 30% healthcare and education
facilities provided by the Church in the region are likely to shut down. because of that different
Economic, democratic and social Consequences are facing the states;
- Thousands are likely to lose their jobs in the NGO sector.
- Poor minorities are likely to lose access to social services, which the BJP is notorious for
denying them. - Fear is likely to replace open debate.
According to report by the Indian Express, the FCRA Bill’s provision regarding the control of
assets has raised fears of executive overreach in the affairs of minorities. Church leaders in
Kerala have already begun mobilizing against the FCRA Bill, calling it an attack on
constitutional secularism.
Time to resist this marginalization:
FCRA Bill is not about curbing misuse; it is about crushing dissent and empowering minorities.
The repeated attacks on civil society organizations in South India by the BJP through the FCRA
are an indication of the BJP’s strategy to weaken any voice against majoritarianism.
South India needs to unite. Those who become victims must raise voices about the withdrawal
and restoration of the cancelled licenses. Constitutional rights cannot be sacrificed at the altar of
political ideologies. As the very survival of the pluralistic democracy in India depends on it.
