Why India?

When India gained independence in 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister, had a big job ahead of him. The economy was unstable and the state of agriculture couldn’t produce the level of food needed for the population. Most people were illiterate and very poor. There was a caste system in place resulting in significant discrimination toward lower castes. Nehru was applauded for passing many social reform bills (like increasing rights for women), helping advance technology and science, and paving the way for rapid industrialization. His initiatives led to improved conditions for the people, but only minimally. Nehru also advocated a socialist style of governance that is argued to have stunted progress. He built an economy in which the state owned, operated and controlled means of production, while private activity, property rights, and entrepreneurship were discouraged or regulated through permits. Nationalization of economic activity and high taxes were also encouraged. Over the years, with these types of policies, corruption became rampant, which continues to persist today.

India has been a heavily populated country as far back as the 1800’s, and continues to experience population growth. It’s expected to overtake China’s population in 2024. The daunting challenge is how to provide health, education, and employment to that many people, something that has been an ongoing struggle for India. The population sits around 1.3 billion, with estimates of people living below the poverty line anywhere from 20% to 50% of the population! The number all depends on whose measurements you use, but it is likely higher because women, ethnic minorities and members of low-caste groups (e.g. Dalits) do not get counted.

There are many disturbing effects of poverty on people in India. Out of desperation, there is a high number of women who turn to prostitution (estimated to be 3 million), and because it is an accepted way of life (and legal), little is done to help these women get out of the trade. Besides women, children are also involved in the trade either because a mother has brought their child into it, or because the child was trafficked into it.

Another disturbing effect of poverty is orphaned and abandoned children. There are over 31 million orphans and 11 million abandoned children in India alone. Of the abandoned children, 90% of them are girls because girls do not provide families with the same financial support as boys. They also have costly dowries and end up leaving the family once married.

The Kathryn E Larsen’s Children’s Center (KEL)

The Kathryn E. Larsen Children’s Center (KEL) is located in a small town in the state of Andhra Pradesh, which runs along the southeastern coast of India. The Children’s Center, which is run by Pastor Zakkariah and his family, is in the middle of a very poor community where children are at high risk of abandonment due to a family’s inability to provide basic essential care to their children.

Global Hope Village

 Global Hope supports seven children’s facilities in south central India. They are located on one campus which is designed so that the children can walk to school and play together. They often participate together in studies, summer camps and after-school activities.