India and SOS Children's Villages
India, situated in South Asia is the second most populous country on the planet. It's a huge country with 1.06 billion people and it's counted among major powers of the world. In recent years India made great strides in many sectors with GDP growth clocking more than 9 percent. India is now a $1 trillion economy which is the 12th-largest in the world measured in nominal US dollars, but rises to fourth-largest when measured at purchasing power parity exchange rates. India is a nuclear weapons state but it confronts plenty of severe disturbances internally and at its eastern and western borders. Poverty is widespread.
The situation of children in India
The flipside of India's face reflects grim scenario. India figures low at 128 at HDI rankings (among 177 countries) which is a combined measure of long and healthy life, education and standard of living:
- India contributes a quarter of the world total in newborn deaths.
- Almost half of all children under the age of three are underweight.
- 30 percent of newborns born with low birth weight.
- 52 percent of women and 74 percent of children are anaemic.
- Over 51 per cent of children in India under-five are stunted.
Despite all the progress made by the country malnutrition among children and women is a matter of great concern.
SOS Children's Villages in India
SOS Children's Villages of India is very much concerned to the plight of the children in the country. The first SOS Village came into being in 1968 in Greenfields near capital Delhi and since then it spread throughout the country. Presently, more than 4000 children are under long-term care in 31 SOS Children's Villages in India.
Since plenty of children are deprived and not all could be admitted for care in the SOS Villages so, a unique concept which is in operation throughout the SOS countries worldwide also commenced in India. About, 14,000 children and their families are being supported through its Family Strengthening Programmes. SOS Children's Villages of India is trying to reach out to as many children in need it can.
2008 saw inauguration of two SOS Children's Villages - one in central India at Raipur and one in south at Pondicherry. People and government have been supporting the childcare endeavour of SOS Children's Villages and they insist for expansion. The impact of Family Strengthening Programmes is very encouraging and it will be reaching out to more families in need.