“The question before us is not just how resources are regulated, but how trust is managed and service to the most vulnerable is maintained,” said Vijayesh Lal, General Secretary, Evangelical Fellowship of India. File photo: Special arrangement
As Parliament considers the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) has called for a meaningful consultative review by the government and careful scrutiny to “ensure that the framework that emerges reflects both the rule of law and the spirit of service that has long strengthened Indian civil society”.
EFI called for the law to be enforced “in a way that is fair, reasonable and does 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 in all financial and charitable activities”. Mr Lal reiterated that “Christian institutions are committed to these principles”.
Stressing that faith-based institutions have played an important role in education and health care, Mr. Lal said, “The question before us is not just how resources are regulated, but how trust is managed and service to the most vulnerable is maintained. We note with concern that the provisions relating to the deposit of foreign contributions and property into a designated authority may change the relationship between the state and civil society in the most fundamental way, allowing control of property in a particular cases arising from procedural or administrative issues raise serious concerns about proportionality, constitutional guarantees and institutional continuity.
‘Attention Needed’
He argued that these issues require urgent attention and “if not addressed, could have far-reaching consequences 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 the fairness, proportionality and contribution such institutions have long made to the common good.”
He called for a meaningful consultative exercise by the government and a careful review, and urged Parliament to ensure that the framework that emerges reflects both the rule of law and the spirit of service that has long strengthened Indian civil society.
Published – 01 Apr 2026 23:12 IST
