India

 
India, officially the Republic of India, is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal on the east, India has a coastline of 7,517 kilometres. It is bordered by Pakistan to the west; People's Republic of China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north; and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Indonesia in the Indian Ocean.
 
There’s a magic about India that casts a spell on many who visit this hectic yet enchanting country. Home to over 1.1 billion people, India is a vibrant mixture of unique cultures, languages, tastes and smells to dazzle even the most well travelled explorer. With its mind-bending diversity - from snowcapped mountains to sun-washed beaches, crusty old bazaars to chichi designer boutiques, tranquil temples to feisty festivals, ramshackle rural villages to techno-savvy urban hubs - it’s hardly surprising that India has been dubbed the planet’s most multidimensional country.
 
In the 20th century, a nationwide struggle for independence from the British colonial rule was launched by the Indian National Congress and other political organisations. Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi led millions of people in national campaigns of non-violent civil disobedience. On 15 August 1947, India gained independence from the British empire, but at the same time Muslim-majority areas were partitioned to form a separate state of Pakistan.  On 26 January 1950, India became a republic and a new constitution came into effect.
 
Whilst India has made huge strides towards opening up its economy and creating a democratic Government, there is concern that this new India is not benefitting all those who live in it. India often seems like two separate countries: village India, supported by traditional agriculture, where tens of millions—one fourth of population—live below the poverty line; and urban India, one of the most heavily industrialized areas in the world, with an increasingly middle-class population and a fast-growing economy. Agriculture makes up some 20% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and employs about 60% of the Indian people.
 
Although the constitution forbids the practice of “untouchability,” and legislation has been used to reserve quotas for former untouchables (and also for tribal peoples) in the legislatures, in education, and in the public services, the caste system continues to be influential.

Kalki Welfare Society

Pondicherry, India

Giving street children access to learning tools, resources and opportunities they need to become productive members of the society.

Sharana

Pondicherry, India

Sharana believes in promoting development that empowers individuals to improve their living conditions and achieve full selfreliance, while respecting each person’s self-worth.

Credit @ People

Pondicherry, India

Helping communities create sustainable means of income

Vallalar Educational Trust

Kanjanur Village, India

Dedicated to empowering the nearby villages through social, economic and children's educational development to create a sustainable village atmosphere.