India: A Development Overview

India has a longstanding history of conflict and struggle. Beginning in the fifth century AD with the arrival of the Aryans, India faced a series of invasions that had an enduring impact on the cultural and religious landscape. Throughout India’s history the Greeks, Persians, Arabs, Turks, Afghans, and Mughal empires all invaded India’s Northern borders and by the seventeenth century, European powers also began to establish a colonizing presence. It was not until August 1947 that India achieved its independence from the British Empire and was able to establish a government for self-rule, producing the largest democracy in the world.

Adversity, however, did not go away with the retreat of colonizing forces. India contains over one billion people, or one sixth of the world’s population, and it is now home to one third of the world’s poor. For the 260 million Indians living in poverty, it is a daily fight to secure even the most basic survival needs. Countless Indian citizens are malnourished, lack access to medical care, and live in overpopulated and unsanitary environments.

Rajasthan is a region in which many Indians are forced to live in these types of impoverished conditions. The state, located in the northwestern part of the country, is the most populated desert in the world and is the second poorest state in India (Grey, 2004). Rajasthanis face myriad of obstacles that cause enduring struggle and suffering. Many families are burdened by significant debt and lack the financial assets to obtain necessary loans. They are stuck in their financial position and, therefore, are unable to ever rise above the poverty line. Lack of sufficient income also adversely affects the health of the people in this region. In Rajasthan, the medical facilities are frequently rundown and overcrowded. Hundreds of thousands of people are unable to afford adequate healthcare, forcing them to rely on the under funded and understaffed public hospitals.

The state also suffers from severe environmental degradation due to deforestation, overuse of agricultural land, and shifting global weather. This has devastating effects on the millions that live off the land, but few demands for support are effectively placed upon the federal government. Many are ignorant of their rights as citizens and remain isolated from the political system. The federal government fails to adequately address many local development issues, which adversely affect both women and children. Countless public schools in Rajasthan lack sufficient teachers and school supplies and millions remain uneducated and illiterate. Historically, women are oppressed within Indian society and treated with inferior status. As a result, Rajasthani women frequently are overburdened by domestic responsibilities and lack the freedom and authority to make their own decisions.

Both drought and seasonal migration are issues that are specific to the region of Rajasthan, but have widespread and lasting effects in this region. Rajasthan recorded over forty droughts from 1954-2004, absolutely devastating the environment. Water tables dried up which severely affected the productivity of this agriculturally-based economy. People lack basic food security and many do not have access to safe drinking water. Health, income, and environmental conditions are of great concern and drought is crippling the livelihoods of millions in this region. Similarly, seasonal migration greatly affects many aspects of Rajasthani society. Many men living in rural communities cannot generate sufficient income locally and are forced leave their homes in search of work in urban centers to supplement their earnings. Their families are left behind, struggling to make ends meet. This lack of sufficient human resources, combined with deficient education, healthcare, and local economic outlets has created a desperate situation for many in Rajasthan.

As India moves forward and its population continues to grow, it is imperative that poverty alleviation continues to be a central focus of India’s development. The Indian government, however, is reticent to look to outside sources for economic assistance due to India’s long history of colonization. Solutions, therefore, are most effective from within India’s borders. Grassroots NGOs have become a vitally important resource for the poor and oppressed. FSD concentrates on developing bottom-up solutions that will directly benefit these peoples. Through established partnerships with NGOs located in the Udaipur area, FSD has found a lean and effective method of implementing community-based solutions. Working with one of our partner organizations offers you the opportunity to support the resolution of problems that the government overlooks or inadequately addresses and become an effective agent for change within Indian society.


For more about subject-specific development issues and internship/volunteer opportunities in India, click on the links below:

Micro-enterprise/Microfinance ▪ Environment ▪ Health ▪ Youth and Education

Women's Empowerment ▪ Community Development ▪ Human Rights