Situational analysis: India

Thursday, 1st June 2006

The size of India and the diversity of its landmass and population equates more to a sub continent than a single country. Its regional differences are reflected in the mosaic of its many ethnic groups, languages and religions.

India is currently experiencing phenomenal economic growth with current rates of 7-8% predicted to be sustained over the next decade or more. India is now the twelfth largest economy in the world.

However despite these impressive macro economic statistics, India is home to one third of the world's poorest people with one of the highest infant mortality rates and maternal mortality rates in the world.

With 5.7 million people living with HIV and Aids India has the highest population of people living with the virus in the world.

But India has made significant progress since Independence in 1947, at that time, 60% of the population was living below the poverty line - today it is 36%.

Between 1951 and 2003, life expectancy doubled from 32 to 63.7 years and literacy rose from 18% to 67%. However progress in India remains uneven, and there are sharp disparities between states, between women and men, and between rural and urban areas.

Poverty is now concentrated in the four least developed states, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa (which together account for a little over 60% of the number of poor in the country).

It is also predominant amongst ST (Scheduled tribes) and SC (Scheduled Castes); a situation perpetuated by the caste system, entrenched in Indian society.

Women also continue to disproportionately face discrimination and oppression at all levels and stages of their lives.

Concern India country strategy 2006 - 2011: Contents