Indian Minister salutes Catholic Religious for quality education
(Sept.29,2009): India's education minister has praised Catholic Religious for bringing
quality education to the country's poor and asked them to be partners in raising general
teaching standards in the country. "We salute you for making quality education accessible
to the poor and marginalized. We want more people like you," said federal Human Resources
Development Minister Kapil Sibal, while opening the national assembly of the Conference
of Religious (CRI) on Sept. 28 in New Delhi. In his speech, Sibal urged the Catholic
Religious to contribute to the government's new education policy that aims for expansion,
inclusion and excellence. He described educators as artists, and children - their
"natural canvas." The participants applauded loudly when Sibal said he would introduce
a clause in the new education law to protect minority rights. The CRI represents
India's more than 125,000 Catholic Religious brothers, priests and nuns. Some 550
CRI members are attending the Sept. 27-Oct. 2 leadership conference with the theme,
"Harmonious India." In his speech, Sibal, an alumnus of New Delhi's St. Columba's
School, where the assembly is being held, said the biggest challenge in bringing
harmony to the country was making education accessible to all sections of society.
The CRI national assembly takes place every three years. The event began on Sept.
27 with a Mass led by Archbishop Vincent M. Concessao of Delhi.