New govt must focus on poverty, education & health: Cardinal

The UPA government must consider its electoral victory as an opportunity to fulfill their uncompleted promises to the people of India, says Archbishop Oswald Gracias, president of the Indian Bishops Conference.

The Mumbai prelate while expressed satisfaction over the peaceful manner in which the elections were conducted, told AsiaNews that he expects renewed commitment from the new government on issues such as "inclusiveness of all peoples, the minorities, the majorities, the tribal's and dalits."

The archbishop praised the Indian electorate for showing a "sense of responsibility" and said the vote was a "clear mandate for religious freedom and India can only gain and prosper if the freedom of religion as enshrined by our founding fathers in the constitution is upheld and ensured."

The Cardinal suggested that the government momentously work on "basic primary health care and education for women, female children and the poor."

"Our rural poor, our girl child, our women, our tribals and our dalits need basic primary health care and education," he stressed.

Further, he anticipates the new government to " implement long term pro-poor policies which will benefit our common people and elevate poverty from our nation."