2. Introduction Despite being the 4th largest economy in the world, India is still classed as a developing country Development in terms of the following topics: Economic strategies Structure of the economy Caste system The environment However as the country is so large and diverse some of the problems will not apply to all of the states
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4. Background Facts Officially gained independence from British Colonial rule on 15th August 1947 Population of 1,166,079,217 The World’s largest electoral democracy Eligible voters: 714 million Overall turnout of 59.7% (2009)
5. Current situation Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, still significant problems of poverty UN-Human Development Index 2009 HDI, Medium Human Development Life Expectancy of 69.89 years Population below poverty line of 25% 47% of all children are malnourished and classified as underweight Literacy rates: total population: 61% (147th) male: 73.4% female: 47.8% (2001 census)
6. The economic policies After independence in 1947 India’s economic development was dominated by socialist-influenced polices Large state-owned sectors Red tape & extensive regulations (“License Raj”) Country become a state isolated from the world economy India slowly began to open up its market through economic liberalisation (1991 economic reform
7. Economic Reform Exports tripled between 1992-1997 Basic food prices rapidly increased Reliant loans for growth, W.B.’s biggest borrower GDP growth between 2007-2008 = 9.0%
9. Inequality between states Great differences between the development of Indian states Bihar/West Bengal Bihar has a legacy of a feudal system and a political structure riddled with corruption Literacy rate of 53% W. Bengal has implemented land reform to empower small farms, achieved economic and social success, high level of participation in politics Literacy rate of 69%
10. Environment 290 million Indian people are employed in agriculture(490 million) Occupies 48% of the land The success or failure of the monsoon rains makes more difference to the national income than any other figure Uncertainty year on year around crop yield
11. The caste system Hindu system of social differentiation Discrimination by caste has been outlawed since independence In rural areas the caste system is still deeply ingrained in the culture Dalits are the lowest regarded caste, outcasts
12. Dalits (‘The Untouchables’) Over 200 million In rural areas they are still bound by contracts to higher castes Often live in poor conditions and are persecuted by the rest of the community The caste system hinders development It reinforces dependency Maintains a large uneducated sector of the population Group struggle to take part in the democratic process
13. Disease HIV/AIDS In 2007 there was an estimated 2.4 million Indians living with HIV (4th highest in the world) Affected all sections of society
14. Conclusion There may be a large upper class and a growing middle-class emerging but there still remains a base of 600 million whose basic needs are not being met Educated, middle and upper classes need to be encouraged to invest in the rural population of India Unification between Indian states
15. Continued ‘Now you have a generation of young, urban Indians who are as uncomprehending of that other India as any Westerner. They have lost the language to be able to communicate with each other. They've become a different species.’ Arundhati Roy, Author
17. Bibliography Journeyman Pictures- India’s Maoist Revolution P. Shurmer-Smith. India, lobalisation and change http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6257057.stm http://www.worldbank.org.in/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/INDIAEXTN/0,,menuPK:295609~pagePK:141132~piPK:141109~theSitePK:295584,00.html Europa World year book 2009 www.business.mapsofindia.com/india-economy/ecodevelopment.html
