“The question before us is not only how resources are regulated, but how trust is stewarded and how service to the most vulnerable is sustained,” Vijayesh Lal, General Secretary, Evangelical Fellowship of India, said. File photo: Special Arrangement
As the Parliament considers the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) has called for a meaningful consultative review exercise by the government and a careful review to “ensure that the framework that emerges reflects both the rule of law and the spirit of service that has long strengthened India’s civil society”.
The EFI called for the law to be upheld “in ways that are fair, proportionate, and do not undermine institutions serving vulnerable communities”.
In a statement to the media, EFI General Secretary Vijayesh Lal affirmed “the importance of transparency, accountability and integrity of all financial and charitable activity”. Mr. Lal reiterated that “Christian institutions are committed to these principles”.
Underlining that faith-based institutions had played an important role in the field of education and healthcare, Mr. Lal said, “The question before us is not only how resources are regulated, but how trust is stewarded and how service to the most vulnerable is sustained. We note with concern that provisions relating to the vesting of foreign contributions and assets in a designated authority may alter the relationship between the state and civil society in fundamental ways. In particular, provisions that allow for the vesting of assets and control in a designated authority, even in cases arising from procedural or administrative issues, raise serious concerns about proportionality, constitutional safeguards, and institutional continuity.”
‘Attention needed’
He claimed these issues needed urgent attention and “if left unaddressed, may have far-reaching implications for institutions that have long served the nation’s most vulnerable communities. These concerns are not merely administrative. They require careful reconsideration in light of fairness, proportionality, and the contribution such institutions have long made to the common good.”
Calling for a meaningful consultative exercise by the government and a careful review, he urged the Parliament to ensure that the framework that emerges reflects both the rule of law and the spirit of service that has long strengthened India’s civil society.
Published – April 01, 2026 11:12 pm IST
