Church leaders to oppose NCR Bill 2006

Christian leaders representing various churches and Christian institutions have resolved to make individual as well as joint representations before the Indian Government in protest against the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Bill 2006.

Meeting, February 24, 2007, heads of various churches, fellowships and Christian associations and organizations, perused through the critical study undertaken by the members of the Task Force which was appointed earlier to identify issues of concerns in respect of selected sections and clauses in the Bill.

Dr. Shailendra Awale, chief coordinator of Church of North India (CNI) Synodical Board of Social Services (SBSS) and Sanjay Patra, executive director, Financial Management Services Foundation (FMSF) (a development support organisation) made a presentation on the provisions of the proposed Bill, comparing it with the Act of 1976, and expressed serious concerns about some of the new provisions included in the Bill that was tabled in the Rajya Sabha on December 18, 2006.
Explaining the implications of the proposed amendments particularly for the churches and Christian organizations, Dr. Awale and Mr. Patra initiated a round of open discussion wherein everyone agreed that the Bill had become a bureaucratic trap for NGOs and Christian organizations.

Though initially the Christian leaders felt that they should object to certain provisions in the Bill, later, they unanimously decided to reject the Bill in its entirety and make a representation before the Indian Government in this regard.

Agreeing that the Bill was aimed at hindering the socio–religious activities of Christian missions, institutions and NGOs in India, the leaders resolved to sensitize the Christian community about the serious implications of the Bill and stage protest against it at all levels of governance.

The Christian leaders appreciated the urgency of the situation and decided to jump into action as the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Parliament) website inviting public opinion on tabled Bill has indicated March 10, 2007 as the last date for receiving the representations.

Some of the distinguished leaders present in the meeting were Bishop D.K. Sahu, general secretary, National Council of Churches in India (NCCI); Rev. (Dr.) Enos Das Pradhan, general secretary, Church of North India (CNI); Fr. Henry D’Souza, executive director of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) Commission for Social Communications; Fr. Babu Joseph, spokesman, CBCI; John Dayal, president, All India Catholic Union (AICU); Fr. Dominic Emmanuel, SVD of the Catholic Church; Rev. P. Lyngdoh, deputy moderator, CNI and Tehmina Arora, secretary, Christian Legal Association of India (CLAI).

The meeting was convened by NCCI Commission on Polity and National Governance (COP).