CIM is passionate about educating organisations on legal requirements and compliance. In its call to enhance the legal literacy of leaders and non-profit organisations (NPOs), a comprehensive workshop—the Legal Requirements for Churches & NPOs (LRCN)—was held in Hyderabad from February 12 to 15, 2025. The four-day workshop is a prerequisite for the four-month online course, LCRN, offered by CIM.
Under the charge of Dr. Mercia Justin, the Director of Courses, Research and Publications at CIM, the workshop began in Hyderabad with twelve eager participants. The esteemed speakers, including Advocate Robin Christopher, CA Richard Wesley, the Director of ChristNet Academy, and Advocate Neha Maria, led the discussions on various legal topics. The sessions covered critical areas in the Indian Legal System, including the Constitution, Minority Rights, Labour Laws and more.
The course curriculum, on the other hand, includes an overview of the Indian Legal System and the Indian Constitution, a brief look at Personal Laws, Labour Laws, and Employee Welfare Policies, and coverage of Property Management, the Right to Information Act (RTI), the Right to Education (RTE), Registration of NPOs, Laws for Women's Protection, and Laws relating to Children's Homes.
Participants, including six students of the MA Mission Management programme and senior leaders from prominent organisations, spoke on the key takeaways from their experience. Gracy, a participant, emphasised the importance of understanding that "ignorance of the law is no excuse" and expressed her intention to recommend the course to others. Similarly, Linda appreciated the clarity provided by faculty members, who translated complex legal terms into layman’s language. Sam Varghese, another participant, noted the rich content regarding compliance and legal requirements for employees within the NPO sector, while Om Prakash found the sharing of experiences among colleagues and faculty particularly beneficial. Participants recognised the pressing need to bridge knowledge gaps in legal compliance and promote legal education among youth.
The workshop was a success because of the collaborative effort of CIM and its partners, including ChristNet Academy, the host and facilitator of the workshop in Hyderabad, and other partners. The workshop made the participants realise the need to equip organisational leaders with a legal foundation. They recognised the need to promote law education among youth, understanding that establishing cordial relationships with government officers through associations and collaborative initiatives is important.
After the workshop concluded, participants have now embarked on the comprehensive and extensive training sessions of the course. The upcoming four-month programme will feature Zoom meetings every two weeks, along with assignments for each chapter, ending with participant-led research projects.
Join us to promote legal education among Christian youth for a brighter tomorrow and enhance legal literacy for a better, compliant future in the NPO sector.