It’s been three months since our Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) license renewal was denied. Then, we said there must be life beyond FCRA. Looking back at what we managed to do during these three months, we think there indeed was a semblance of life post-FCRA. We thought it would be nice to share it with you.
Before doing that, how has it been for us the past three months? Life was not a roller coaster (never been!). We faced difficulties paying our bills, we borrowed money from friends and relatives and we faced uncertainties every morning. But we did not want to give up easily. We recognised that this decision on FCRA was to intimidate and silence us. We refused to go down silently without a fight!
What gave us strength was the outpouring support and solidarity from a lot of people far and near (collectively referred to as anti-nationals and urban – sometimes rural – naxals!). We could have never survived this turbulent weather without that.
Weaponising FCRA was only one of the ways how this regime wanted to crack down on dissent. Misuse of UAPA, IT and ED raids, arrests and incarceration and different ways of witch-hunting of activists and organisations have been a norm, particularly in the past decade. We stand in solidarity with all of them.
Looking back, we asked ourselves whether we regret the things we did in the past which invited the decision on FCRA. The answer was an unwavering NO!
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A few days after the FCRA denial, the Union Budget was presented. The budget analysis The Budget That Didn’t Deliver: Unpacking the Budget: 2024-25 was published soon after. A few articles on the Budget and Economic Survey were also published. Analyzing social sector spending in the 2024-25 Budget, highlighting the shrinking allocations, A detailed critique of the 2025 Railway Budget, debunking myths and providing insights using charts and graphics, Exploration of the government’s revenue sources, focusing on how income tax contributes more than corporate tax in the 2024-25 Budget, Insights into growing economic inequality as reflected in the latest Economic Survey, Social Security Budget: A Forgotten Footnote, Inequality, Jobs, Hunger: Why You Should Care About the Union Budget, A Meme-Worthy Budget.
We analysed the first 100-days performance of NDA-3 government on economy and finance: 100 Days of Economy & Finance: More of the same. But also forced reversals on some fronts.
All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC) and CFA jointly published a report: Where is my interest rate? The report highlights the key challenges faced by Public Sector Banks (PSBs), including the growing issue of loan write-offs, the effectiveness of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).
Launched the ‘Plastics Fuel Infertility’ campaign microsite through an online panel discussion with three key speakers (Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Senior Journalist and Author; Aarti Latkar, Research Fellow, Aarhus University; and Debasis Shyamal, President, Dakshinbanga Matsyajibi Forum) to shed light on the detrimental impacts of plastics across its full lifecycle on human and animal health, livelihoods, the environment, and the climate.
After strong advocacy efforts from the ground, which CFA was part of, Kerala Bank made the unprecedented decision to write off loans for those affected by the 2024 Wayanad landslide.
On August 26th, a webinar called “Please Mind the Gap: De-concentrating Wealth, Combating Inequality” was hosted by CFA in collaboration with Progressive International. Harsh Mander, Anmol Somanchi, Jayati Ghosh, Christian Duarte, and Pedro Rossi were among the speakers who analysed the growing disparity in wealth in India and worldwide. Watch the recording here.
CFA, in collaboration with other organisations and independent activists, sent a collective letter endorsed by 174 civil society organizations, regional and global networks and activists against the International Finance Corporation’s proposed USD 40 million funding for 4 Waste to Energy incineration projects in Gujarat.
Held an awareness meeting in Chennai, in collaboration with other organisations about the potential impacts of the proposed 2,100 ton/day WTE incinerator in Kodungaiyur, Chennai.
Released an explainer about the impacts of the WTE incinerator in Tamil in collaboration with other organisations
Com. Thomas Franco continued with his widely read weekly column Random Reflections in Finance Matters.
The 7th Smitu Kothari Fellowship was announced giving young writers an opportunity to do in-depth research and publish.
Made a timeline of PPPs in India which traces the legal, fiscal, and policy developments that transform the landscape establishing it as a go-to model for infrastructure financing in India.
We stood in solidarity with the people of Narmada and the actions of protestors from Ladakh.
On the anniversary of the Chungthang disaster, CFA launched a social media campaign to spotlight the ongoing struggles of the affected communities.
A few other articles/ publications:
- Why Jhabua power plant is unable to eliminate ‘dangerous’ fly ash reserves
- To undo the deadly noose of loan apps, RBI’s occasional warnings won’t do
- Why RBI’s financial governance should address social and environmental concerns
- India’s stark disparities have finally found voice in political discussions
- World Bank @ 80: Radical Restructuring, Not Reforms
- India’s Huge Thrust on Petrochemicals Belies its Tall Talk on Sustainable Energy
- What does the death of an adivasi woman tell about #Gujarat’s so called Development Model & Health infra?
- Video arguing that the debts of the disaster-affected people in Wayanad should be written off by the banks.
While any critique of the oil and gas space, or the Adanis and the Ambanis are being frowned upon with dire consequences,
- We released a report on oil exploration in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- Released 3 videos on the expected impacts of Adani’s proposed Coal to PVC plant in Mundra
- Released a report on the interlinkages between petrochemical production and biodiversity
- Released a media brief on the impacts of Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (RRPCL) on biodiversity
- Released a report on Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Regions.
Our Weekly / Monthly newsletters continued unabated: Finance Matters, Pocket Money & Energy Matters
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There was no bravado in doing all this. We know the risks of fighting against the mightiest and the most powerful. This is our way of saying what the candle-light telling the darkness:
“A candle is a protest at midnight. It is a non-conformist.
It says to the darkness, ‘I beg to differ.’ ” ~ Samuel Rayan.
(What fun if we don’t give fodder to a Christian conspiracy angle!)
We are determined to continue the work. That is possible only if we get financial support as well. Help us continue our work. You can donate here.
If we survive another three months, we will bother you with another update!!
Until then, zindabad!
~ Team CFA