Shillong, August 14: The Meghalaya government will establish a dedicated Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) cell under the state Home Department to assist organisations with applications, renewals and other issues related to foreign funding, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Friday.
Sangma said the proposed cell would be established in consultation with the Centre and would coordinate with the Union government to help organisations facing difficulties with FCRA applications and renewals.
The initiative would allow organisations to address their concerns locally in Shillong instead of travelling to Delhi, he said.
The Chief Minister said the proposal had also been discussed with the Union Home Secretary. Under the mechanism being worked out, officials from the Centre would periodically be available in the state to assist organisations and address their concerns.
Sangma stressed that organisations must comply with procedures governing the monitoring and regulation of foreign contributions. At the same time, he said, people and organisations should not face undue hardship, including situations involving seizure of assets.
He said the state government was working to create a mechanism that would maintain a balance between effective regulation of foreign contributions and ensuring that legitimate organisations could address their difficulties more easily.
