If you sponsor — or are thinking about sponsoring — a child in India, here are some facts to help you learn about this bustling nation, its land and its people.
India is a country in South Asia bordered by Pakistan to the northwest; Nepal, China and Bhutan to the north; and Myanmar and Bangladesh to the east. The island country of Sri Lanka is located about 40 miles off the southeast coast of India.
India is home to the Himalayas, the tallest mountain range in the world, and to the iconic, white marble Taj Mahal — one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. It is the most populous country, with more than 1.46 billion people, and linguistically one of the most diverse. India is home to several hundred languages and 22 official languages. It has a relatively young population, with a median age of 28.8. The life expectancy of the average Indian is 70.8 years.
India is the most populous country in the world, with more than 1.46 billion people.
Today, nearly 65 percent of Indians live in rural areas. But in recent years, India’s largest cities have grown at twice the rate of its small towns and villages, as families seek jobs in the nation’s urban centers. India’s capital, New Delhi, houses a staggering 34.7 million people in its metropolitan area. The financial center of Mumbai has 22.5 million people, and Kolkata, a port city, has 15.8 million people in its metro area. For families living in poverty, life in India’s cities can be difficult. Families who reside in densely populated slums lack safe housing, clean water, proper sanitation and access to health care.
Since 1979, Holt has worked alongside Holt sponsors and donors to care for orphaned and vulnerable children in India. Holt helped establish our local partner agencies Bharatiya Samaj Seva Kendra (BSSK) in Pune and Vathsalya Charitable Trust (VCT) in Bangalore. And today, with the support of Holt sponsors and donors, both BSSK and VCT work to keep families in crisis together, providing the basic nutritional, educational and medical support parents need to care for their children and prevent family separation.
For children who are abandoned or relinquished, BSSK also provides safe and nurturing care until children can be reunited with their families or placed in a loving, permanent home. Every year, Holt sponsors and donors provide life-changing support for more than 16,700 children and families in India.
Basic Facts
Capital
New Delhi
Population
1.46 billion people (est.)
Official Languages
22 languages in India have official status. The most common is Hindi, spoken by 43.6% of the population. English is considered a subsidiary official language, used in government, business, education and national communication.
Area
1,269,219 square miles, slightly more than one-third the size of the U.S.
Climate
Most of India experiences three seasons: hot (March–May), rainy (June–October) and cool (November–February). Droughts and earthquakes are common, as are floods, especially during the rainy season.
Religion
Hindu, 79.8%; Muslim, 14.2%; Christian, 2.3%; Sikh, 1.7%; other and unspecified, 2%
Ethnic Groups
Indo-Aryan, 72%; Dravidian, 25%; other, 3%
Type of Government
Federal parliamentary republic
National Celebrations
India is known for its many festivals — and hardly a month goes by without some type of celebration. Many of the festivities have religious or cultural importance, while others commemorate the beginning of harvest season or significant dates in the nation’s history.
The Hindu festival of Diwali is India’s biggest and most important holiday. Known as the “festival of lights,” this five-day festival is centered around the new moon and takes place in late October or November. It celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. Preparations begin weeks in advance when people clean their homes and decorate them with lights. On the third day of Diwali, families light diyas (small, earthenware lamps filled with oil) and place them outside their homes and along riverbanks. Families may also exchange gifts with loved ones.
Celebrated on August 15, Independence Day commemorates the nation’s freedom from British rule in 1947. It is marked throughout India with flag-raising ceremonies and the singing of patriotic songs and the national anthem. Children fly kites in the colors of the Indian flag (saffron, white and green) and dress in clothing of the same colors.
Indian Food & Drink
India has an exceptionally diverse cuisine that uses the many spices, vegetables, grains and fruits grown across the nation. Because an estimated 39 percent of the population is vegetarian, due to religious beliefs and other factors, the Indian diet includes a variety of non-meat dishes. Staples include flatbread (naan or roti) and rice.
Indians drink an assortment of black and green teas, produced in the country’s different regions. One popular drink is Masala chai, made from black tea boiled in milk and water, with a mixture of aromatic herbs and spices.
Some common Indian dishes include:
- Masala dosa, a thin pancake made from rice, flour and lentils. It is often folded in half and stuffed with potatoes.
- Samosa, a fried dough pocket filled with ingredients such as potatoes, onions, spices and peas. Samosas are typically eaten as a snack and topped with sauces or chutneys (a condiment made of fruit, vinegar, sugar and spices).
- Dal makhani, a stew made with black or yellow lentils
- Tandoori chicken, chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, and roasted in a clay oven (a tandoor)
- Tikka masala, chicken (or other meat) cooked in a tandoor or on a skewer and covered with a spiced curry sauce
- Biryani, a rice dish seasoned with saffron, turmeric, nuts and whole spices. It’s sometimes layered with marinated meat or hard-boiled eggs.
- Kofta, meatballs usually made with minced lamb or pork, onions and spices
- Kheer, a sweet rice pudding
Mealtime Customs
- In many parts of India, lunch and dinner are considered the most important meals of the day.
- In northern and central India, most people start the day with a light breakfast, followed by a large lunch eaten at home, the office or school. This is followed by a light afternoon tea (tiffin) and an evening dinner with family members.
- In southern India, breakfast is the main meal. Rural residents also eat a large, hearty breakfast to prepare for a day’s labor.
- Indians eat most of their meals at home. Eating in restaurants is typically expensive and reserved for special occasions.
- Traditional families may eat their food with their right hand instead of utensils. Less traditional families, including those living in cities, may follow Western customs.
A Day in the Life of Your Sponsored Child
Curious what daily life is like for a sponsored child in India? In this video, filmed by Holt staff in 2018, you’ll be able to step inside the homes, communities, schools and orphanages where Holt sponsors and donors support children and families in India.
Social Concerns
Poverty
India has seen significant economic growth in the past two decades, but many children, particularly those under age 5, still suffer from malnutrition. The nation also has one of the highest rates of out-of-school children in the world — the vast majority of them girls. Families living in poverty have few social services available to them.
In addition, India is still experiencing the socio-economic effects of a thousands-year-old caste system, which determines one’s rank in society at birth. Though banned in 1976, caste discrimination is still a part of Indian society and remains a serious obstacle for many people.
Learn how Holt sponsors and donors help strengthen families living in poverty.
Internal Migration
In recent years, India’s largest cities have grown at twice the rate of its small towns and villages, with many of the increases due to rural-to-urban migration. Today, about 35 percent of the country’s population live in sprawling cities, and India is home to roughly 600 million internal migrants, including children.
Many of these migrants are parents who have moved from rural areas to cities, looking for work in construction and other labor-intensive industries. Parents sometimes leave their older children with family members in the countryside, but often bring their youngest with them to the city. But the income these families earn is barely enough to meet their children’s basic needs — much less afford the high cost of daycare or preschool. As a result, young children often stay with their parents while they work on construction sites or in other hazardous environments.
Learn how Holt sponsors and donors help strengthen migrant families and keep them together.
Food Insecurity & Malnutrition
India is home to 25 percent of all of the undernourished people in the world, according to the UN World Food Program USA. About 21 percent of the population lives on less than $1.90 (U.S.) a day, denying them access to a nutrient-rich and healthy diet. In addition, 38 percent of children are chronically malnourished, and about 52 percent of pregnant women in India are reported to be anemic.
Nutritional-deficiency anemia can occur when the body is not absorbing enough iron, folate or vitamin B-12 from the diet. Research has shown that children who are born to women who are malnourished during pregnancy run the risk of disease, physical delays and reduced cognitive abilities.
Learn how Holt sponsors and donors provide nutritional support for families in India.
Girls’ Education
India continues to be a patriarchal society where women and girls have fewer opportunities than men and boys. In 2009, the Indian parliament passed the Right to Education Act, which guaranteed a free education for all children up to age 14. This marked a watershed moment in the country’s history. Today, however, some 1.17 million Indian children are out of school, many of them adolescent girls. The vast majority of these girls are growing up in slum communities and rural areas where traditional gender roles continue to shape women’s lives.
When a girl stays in school and continues her education, she becomes empowered to someday earn an independent living and end the cycle of poverty in her family. Girls who drop out of school have fewer opportunities and run the risk of becoming a child bride.
According to a recent report by UNICEF, India is home to more than 223 million child brides, nearly half marrying before the age of 15. Child brides are more likely to experience domestic violence, become infected with HIV/AIDS, have more children and experience complications during pregnancy and childbirth. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased the risk of child marriage among girls in India.
Learn how Holt sponsors and donors help girls in India get an education, break the cycle of poverty and stay safe from child marriage.
Holt Partner Empowers Women Through Job Training Program
In the migrant communities of Bangalore, our local partner, Vathsalya Charitable Trust (VCT), works with migrant families to help them develop a stable source of income — often through donor-funded technical education and training.
VCT’s Income Generation Program (IGP) offers skills training courses and entrepreneurial support for migrant women and single mothers, helping low-income women become more competitive in the local labor market. The IGP also develops initiatives to promote social networks among women that lead to better access to services and opportunities. The joint efforts between Holt and VCT have so far enabled more than 1,600 migrant women and single mothers to set up their own businesses or join public or private industries. These women now earn a sustainable wage that supports their needs and those of their families.
Learn more about how three single mothers found a new opportunity to support their families through job training and one simple gift — a sewing machine.
Read more stories about how sponsors and donors help children thrive in India.
Learn more about Holt’s work in India!
See how sponsors and donors create a brighter, more hopeful future for children and families in India!
