India
Catholic Relief Services has worked in solidarity with the people of India for more than 60 years. Since 1946, when CRS provided emergency food relief during the Bombay famine, CRS has rooted partnerships and programming across all of India's states, collaborating alongside families, communities, government leadership and the Church to promote the well-being and dignity of those who are in greatest need.
Despite the many benefits that India's privileged classes have secured after a decade of impressive economic growth, hundreds of millions of people continue to stagnate in poverty and malnutrition. India boasts top medical, engineering, information technology, and management schools with graduates assuming leadership positions around the world; and yet, up to 100 million children are estimated to be out of school, many of them — especially girls — forced or trafficked into horrendous working and living conditions.
Situated in the middle of South Asia, India stretches from western deserts to northeastern hills, from the northern Himalayan mountains to the southern plateaus and jungles. India's population of over 1 billion encompasses numerous ethnic groups and 407 languages. The majority (81%) of Indian are Hindu. Other major religions include Islam (12%), Christianity (2.3%), Sikhism (1.9%), Buddhism, Jainism and Parsism. India's rich history reaches back at least 5,000 years. Indians have witnessed and participated in the rise and fall of many empires, the birth of two of the world's major religions, invasion, colonization, the anti-colonial struggle, and independence and democracy.
Today, the footprint of CRS India is demonstrative of the one human family we represent and serve in our daily work. Our richness is grounded in the talented and tireless CRS India staff of 200 from all parts of the country; strengthened alongside more than 2,500 partners at the frontlines of life-changing work; and reflective of the empowerment of millions of people across 24 states as they take part in rebuilding their future, and making a world of difference.
