INTRODUCTION

While much of our site's content involves past glories of a great land, we also have done considerable work on contemporary India, of whom the poverty remains a Himalayan problem.

Poverty of Indians must be studied with a slightly different perspective (than the poverty of other societies) due to the deep religious faiths of her people. Sadhus such as Nagas may be poor by Western definitions, but for them, it is a chosen (and infinitely richer) way of life. Many of the beggars in India do so to follow family traditions, and to fulfill vows made to a deity. This is not to say all beggars do it by choice.

Please do read about Indian children's life to obtain imagination of a real picture. The poverty in India takes many a forms and degenerates to the utmost kind known to mankind. The statistics portray a ghastly picture: over 50% living in poverty with two hundred million of them in extreme poverty (must earn during the day to eat dinner).

The need to harmonize development with environment is only too clear in today's world. The Government encourages use of pollution abatement techniques, especially in the critically polluted areas. Environmental considerations weigh heavily in clearing certain projects. For this purpose, laws have been framed, fiscal incentives given, agreements signed, educational programs introduced and information disseminated through publicity. Environmental management is accepted as a major guiding factor for national development. The Ministry of Environment and Forests is responsible for planning, promoting and coordinating the environmental forestry programs. There are about 30 enactments relating to environment. The removal of poverty has been the major focus of the Government's efforts. Under the Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP), efforts have been made to endow the poor with assets to promote rural self-employment. During the Seventh Plan period 18.2 million families were assisted under this step and other wage employment programs generated 3.5 million mandays of employment. There are programs for training of rural youth as well as for the promotion of socio-economic activity among rural women. The National Rural Employment Program (NREP) aims at creating additional wage employment opportunities in rural areas simultaneously with the creation of community assets.

As a welfare State, India is committed to the welfare and development of its people, particularly the vulnerable sections like the scheduled castes (SCs), scheduled tribes (STs), backward classes, minorities and the handicapped. There are specific articles in the Constitution, which outline this commitment. The strategy adopted for this aims at minimising inequalities in income, status and opportunities. This section of the society constitutes nearly 85 percent of the population. The task is gigantic for a country with limited resources.

But India it is not only troubles and poverty. It is also an incredible land with a lot of sightseengs and just interesting places. Please visit our pages to know more about India's history and places for tourism.