ASIA/INDIA - Government ready to launch “direct attack on poverty”: financial law to promote development, attention for disadvantaged sectors of society

Tuesday, 1 March 2005

New Delhi (Fides Service) - The Catholic Church in India, other religious minorities missionaries, and social organisations have welcomed the new financial law presented today by the governing Congress Party. The law aims to promote development, address the problem of poverty and proposes new measures to help the most disadvantaged of Indian citizens.
The law was illustrated by Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram who said India’s economy was performing well (annual growth around 6.9%) and announced increased funds in various areas: 1.6 billion US dollars for primary education; 2.35 billion for healthcare; 1.8 billion for reconstruction of rural infrastructures; 2.3 billion aid for tsunami victims and more funds for agriculture. The minister said the government was ready to “launch a direct attack on poverty”.
Local sources told Fides that the law was welcomed in Indian society particularly by people who voted for Congress Party at elections last year because they were not satisfied by the social policies of the Baratiya Janata Party BJP in government.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 1/3/2005 righe 18 parole 191)


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