Densely populated India occupies 2.4 percent of the world’s land area and is home to over 15 percent of the world’s population. The United Nations Development Program reports that nearly 42 percent of India’s population (almost 500 million) live on less than $1.25 per day while about 48 percent of children under age five suffer from stunting—a well-established child health indicator for chronic malnutrition. In addition, human trafficking remains a major concern throughout the country while natural and man-made disasters continue to affect India every year. Though officially illegal, caste-based discrimination remains prevalent, particularly in rural areas, where roughly 70 percent of India’s population still resides.00

Micro finance clients in India