India (view map)

India is the world's largest democracy and second most populous country with a population exceeding one billion. The country is home to a vast variety of cultures, languages, religions and natural environments, and has a rapidly increasing urban middle class although a staggering 300 million still live in poverty.

Following independence from British rule in 1947 the country was partitioned into East and West Pakistan, and India. East Pakistan later became Bangladesh. A conflict over the disputed territories of Kashmir between India and Pakistan has dominated relations between the two countries – both of whom have tested nuclear weapons. A long term peace process was started in the latter decades of the 20th century and has largely stayed on track.

The Indian economy benefits from a large, skilled workforce and has seen positive and sustained growth – particularly in information technology and the service sector. The country’s main exports are agricultural products, textile goods, gems and jewellery, together with software services and technology. Over the last 20 years the country has emerged as a major economic playerthatis now courted by the world's leading economic and political powers.

Despite the country’s sustained economic growth in recent years poverty, particularly in rural areas, remains a huge problem. Over 300 million people live in poverty, many without access to basic services and living on 50 pence a day or less – the United Nations’ measure of extreme poverty.

Progress is being made towards several Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets. Around 78% of the population now has access to improved water supplies and 36% has access to improved sanitation. Over 40% of young people have access to post-elementary schooling, with girls’ enrolments growing faster than boys’. The percentage of children under 3 who are underweight has fallen but still remains very high at 47%.

In 2007 2.5 million people were living with HIV and AIDS, a prevalence rate of 0.36% of the whole country. The MDG target to stabilize and reverse this rate remains challenging.

SCIAF has been supporting poor communities in India to help reduce poverty and injustice for over 20 years. Working with seven partners across the country SCIAF focuses on improving access to food through enhancing agricultural production and the supply of materials such as tools and seeds. SCIAF also actively seeks to empower women, people living with disabilities, and those living with HIV and AIDS, so they can play an active role within their community. This is in addition to our emergency response programme following the Asian tsunami of 2004 and Gujarat earthquake in 2001.