Nagaland is seeking to strengthen the institutional capacity of government departments and civil society organizations to better align with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) compliance and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), with state leaders describing both as key pathways for development and progress.
The focus emerged during the inaugural program of a two-day Capacity Building Training on CSR Compliance & the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act held at the Capital Convention Centre, Kohima on Wednesday. The program is being organized by the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and HCL Foundation.
Opening the program, Vineet Kumar, IAS, Additional Secretary of the Finance Department and IDAN, said the training was designed to “strengthen and enhance the institutional capacity of government departments and civil society organizations to meet the current standards.”
Stating that CSR and FCRA “have become significant components within the state,” he said understanding their nuances was essential and expressed optimism that the program would create new opportunities for related institutions.
Advisor to the Chief Minister and Chairman IDAN, Abu Metha, said the initiative was undertaken following the Chief Minister’s advice to strengthen both government departments and NGOs in order to drive “development and progress in the state.”
Highlighting CSR’s growing importance, Metha said such mechanisms are now “vital” for bringing developmental progress and suggested that departments such as Health, Education and Social Welfare should establish dedicated cells to engage with corporates and the private sector.
He said this could help bring “more developmental and social impact programs in the state.”
On FCRA, Metha said there are “significant opportunities” for accessing foreign funding for social impact initiatives and added that the government is working to improve monitoring, compliance and efficiency so that NGOs and departments can work together more effectively to meet public aspirations.
Speaking on behalf of HCL Foundation, Rahul Kumar said the workshop could help NGOs and related institutions overcome compliance-related challenges and better access funding for development initiatives in Nagaland.
He also noted his long association with Nagaland since 2010 and said grassroots familiarity reinforced the importance of such capacity-building measures.
OP Singh, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, underlined the broader national role of NGOs, noting that their scale reflects how they have become a crucial service delivery mechanism, particularly in remote areas.
He said the Ministry has dedicated outreach mechanisms for NGOs, especially in regions where they are central to implementing development initiatives.
The inaugural session was followed by technical sessions on CSR in India, CSR legal compliance, implementation models, and monitoring and impact assessment.
