India Country Information

Fact and Figures

Location - Southern Asia, bordered by Pakistan, China, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Capital - New Delhi.

Population - 1.1 billion.

People - Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3%

Language - Hindi, English, about 14 other official languages.

Religion - Hindu 80.9%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other groups 2.5%.

Literacy rate - 61%.

Life expectancy - 66.46 years.

% Living below $1.25/day - 42%.

Sources The CIA World Fact Book 2008, Compassion International, www.news.bbc.co.uk.

India

The vast and all-encompassing country of India is known for its eclectic extremes – colours, cultures, landscapes and people all gather to express the heart of a nation which is now a major world power. .

India is the world’s largest democracy and second most populous country on the planet. Despite its rapid economic growth in the 1990s, India remains a country of gross inequality. While there are large numbers of well-educated people, over 600 million people still live in extreme poverty. .

Communal, caste and regional tensions continue to pose threats to India’s political state. While caste discrimination is forbidden by the constitution, it still pervades all religious and social structures especially those in poverty. India has more people groups with no contact with Christians or Christianity than any other part of the world. Most Christians are from the Dalit or tribal communities so many associate the gospel with the society’s underclass. .

Of India’s nearly 400 million children, an estimated 70 million are child labourers, 13 million are homeless and two million are street children. Over 500,000 children have been forced into child prostitution and child trafficking with neighbouring countries is a growing problem. .

Compassion is working to address the needs of India’s children including ensuring that girls as well as boys get equal opportunities regarding education. Compassion has been working in southern India since 1968 and supports more than 67,476 children in over 279 projects. In 2002, Compassion opened the East India office which has registered more than 41,700 children in over 180 projects.

Compassion India currently has 38 Child Survival Programmes.

Over 109,200 children are currently being assisted in more than 460 Child Sponsorship Programmes in India.

Compassion India currently has 157 active Leadership Development Programme students.