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 serves only 12 million of the estimated 100 million potential customers. This leaves 88 million people unserved and trapped in a cycle of poverty in India. 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 16 Indian partners who support over one million clients across the country, primarily in the underserved north. Here, the need is great and interventions are scarce.
Read some stories from India
Our partners in India