The Indian economy has progressed rapidly since the early 90’s after economic liberalisation. Now life expectancy is 65 years compared to 27 in 1947, more than 80% of villages have electricity and 87% have schools and phones. Male literacy rate is 76% and female 54%. A rapid growth of higher education and industry, particularly in the past 15 years, has seen Indian Inc now second largest investor in London, 30% of all foreign investment! However the poorer 70% of the population benefit little.

* Up to 400 million people in India live on less than a dollar a day.

* A further 500 million live on less than two dollars a day.

* In total, 900 million people (80% of the population) are living in conditions of poverty.

* 300 million people still live below the poverty line ($1 per day)

* 200 million in rural India live on less than 12 Rupees a day for food, fuel, light, clothing, footwear, education, medical care, housing etc. (National Sample Survey 2005)

* 47% of all children under five suffer from sub-nutrition - the figure for sub-Saharan Africa is 30%.

* 27% of all children under five do not have enough to eat, and millions of growing children are eating only one meal a day.

* 40% of the world's child labour is in India.

* 83% of women suffer from anaemia mainly due to iron deficiency - the figure for sub-Saharan Africa is 40%

* every hour 12 women die during childbirth in India.

* 33% of babies are born with low birth rate weight - in sub-Saharan Africa the figure is 16%

* Infant mortality is 62 per 1000 live births compared to the Bangladesh figure of 46.

* Literacy - (above 15 years) 61% compared to a figure of 14% in 1957, but the female rate is only 52%.

* 150 million Indians do not have access to safe drinking water.

* 700 million Indians lack adequate sanitary facilities.

poor sanitation coverage in india.doc