India: 12,300 Catholic schools, six million students

I never realized how big the numbers were!

"There is need to focus on education, especially for girl children, and we should help the Government achieve its target of education for all by 2010."

"Educating marginalised sections of society, including Dalits and scheduled communities, not only improves their living conditions but also builds a stronger nation and world with social equality."

These Dalits are the "intouchables". The Hindus get very upset when the
Dalits become Catholic. Believing in incarnation, the Hindus do not feel the
Dalits should change their social stratus standing, and remain at the poorest
and at the bottom.

The Hindus also feel that the Catholics only get the Dalits to convert by
promising money and food, which to the Hindus view, gived the Church an unfair
advantage.

The Catholic Church will give importance to providing education to the underprivileged sections of society to empower them socially and economically, the Vatican Ambassador to India, Apostolic Nuncio Rev. Pedro Lopez Quintano, said here on Wednesday.

This is also the theme for this year's meeting attended by over 160 bishops from across India.