Where We Work
India
Despite being the fourth largest economy in the world, India faces many pressing problems, including overpopulation, environmental degradation, social conflict and extensive poverty. With a population of over 1.1 billion people, India has a larger number of people living in poverty than any other country in the world - approximately 900 million people. Large disparities exist across various regions and social groups. Poor and marginalised groups are often vulnerable to exploitation, including slavery and exploitative sex work. Due to poverty, some families are forced to sell their children, their relatives or themselves into slavery in return for financial help or to pay debts.
India’s rates of child malnutrition are higher than most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. These numbers are staggering and show that the need for poverty alleviation in India is immense, with women and children in need of immediate help.
Currently, microfinance supply in India is heavily outweighed by demand. A near neighbour, India represents both a tremendous need and obvious opportunity to have a significant impact.
Our India Program is managed locally by our subsidiary, Dia Vikas Capital, and our vision for India is to see local partners help millions of poor people lift themselves out of poverty permanently. We currently have 18 Indian partners who support over 1.5 million clients across the country, primarily in the underserved north. Here, the need is great and interventions are scarce.
Latest Report: To read the latest progress report for India, please click here.
The current climate of microfinance in India
Towards the end of 2010, microfinance was in the spotlight in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, with concerns raised over the treatment of microfinance borrowers and the levels of interest rates being charged. Many commentators accused commercial microfinance institutions (those organisations whose primary motive is making a profit, as opposed to Opportunity International Australia’s partners who aim to help people out of poverty) of behaving irresponsibly, pursuing growth and commercial returns as they allow clients to build up excessive levels of debt. While this has instigated a period of transition in recent months, following the sensible regulations issued by the Reserve Bank of India in May, we now expect the sector to return to normal. Read more here.
Read some stories from India
Our partners in India