Prelate asks government to focus on real issues

(August 08, 2011) The Madhya Pradesh government should focus on providing quality education rather than concentrate on trivial issues like banning neck ties in schools, said a Catholic prelate on Thursday. Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal, the capital of the central state, was reacting to the government’s decision that neck ties, considered to be a western influence, would no longer be part of the school uniform. An education department official said verbal orders to that effect were issued a few days ago. However, a written communication is yet to be received. It was not clear whether the order was meant for private schools too. The government is just trying to avoid real issues, said the prelate. Instead of concentrating on trivialities like ties, belts and trousers, the government should provide quality education in its schools so that people are not forced to crowd private schools, he said. Archbishop Cornelio said minorities had the constitutional right to establish and administer educational institutions according to their choice. The Church would not prefer government interference in deciding uniforms of its school students, he added. Ever since the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in the state, Church-run schools are under constant attacks from the right wing Hindu activists. The Church has asked the high court to issue an order to restrain the government officials from harassing its schools.