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ABOUT INDIA
The vast and diverse Indian sub-continent has long been fought over.
From Aryan, Afghan and Persian invasions to the British Raj, India has been under foreign
rule from the early 1800s until independence in 1947. The subsequent division of the
sub-continent into Pakistan and India has not been an easy one.
Three wars over disputed territories have marred an otherwise successful bid for freedom
from colonialism. India has a romance that is at once beautiful and terrible.
Bollywood success, majestic buildings, a large skilled workforce, economic reform and court-
ship by the world’s superpowers – India seems to be on the rise. But then there’s the other
side of the coin.
Extreme poverty stalks the land, as the world’s largest slums continue to spread. Communal,
caste and regional tensions haunt Indian culture. As new wealth lands next door to the most
desperate of human circumstances, India struggles with unimaginable poverty amidst the
creation of economic success. QUICK FACTS
Full name:
Republic of the India
Population:
1.1 billion (UN, 2005)
Major Languages:
Hindi, English and at least 16 other
languages
Major religion:
Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism,
Buddism, Jainism
TEAR FUND IN INDIA
Life expectancy:
EFICOR Wells for Villages Project. 62 years (men), 65 years (women)
In a remote area of India the Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief (Eficor), Main exports:
is providing safe drinking water to villages. Nabarangapur and Koraput districts of Orissa are Agricultural products, textile goods,
gems and jewellery, software services
home to the poorest tribal groups in India. Finding sources of clean drinking water in this and technology, engineering goods,
drought-prone region is a huge challenge, let alone finding water close to their villages. chemicals, leather products.
How it works:
• The community participates in the decision-making process, forming a committee to
oversee the drilling process and ensuring optimum use for the water when it is provided.
• Community members help make access roads for the drilling rig.
• The community helps in transporting the rig to the site. The community’s water
committee and local leaders oversee the process.
• Hand pumps are installed and members of the community are trained to repair them.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
TEAR Fund community development works by empowering poor communities to find their own
solutions to issues. This significantly reduces overheads by operating through local staff. We work
directly with the poorest allowing us to identify and address the root causes of poverty not just
the symptoms.
TEAR Fund partners with indigenous Christian organisations who carry out the work
themselves. Assistance is given regardless of beliefs.
Tear Fund takes an holistic approach to all of its projects which takes the local community on a
journey of transformation through improved physical, social and economic circumstances, and
often on an individual level, spiritual change.
CONTACTS:
National Office: Freephone: 0800 800 777
PO Box 8315, Symonds St, Facsimile: (09) 629 1050
Auckland 1150 Email: enquiries@tearfund.org.nz
New Zealand Website: www.tearfund.org.nz COUNTRY PROFILES