Over 400 Million People Live in Poverty in India — Can Their New Leader Change That?

[Edevelop]

Over 400 Million People Live in Poverty in India — Can Their New Leader Change That?
Image Credit: AP

The world's largest election to date just ended. India's new prime minister will most likely be Narendra Modi from Hindu nationalist party the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), beating out Rahul Gandhi from the Indian National Congress, who many thought was the heir apparent to the position.

Over 550 million votes were cast during the five-week-long general elections, which ended on May 12. The votes are still being tallied, but the BJP already has an absolute majority with 283 seats in India's lower house of parliament out of 543 total, virtually guaranteeing that they will usher in their candidate as the new PM. These elections were unprecedented, with a record voter turnout rate of 66% (2012 U.S. voter turnout was 58%), including an influx of young people casting ballots for the first time.

Modi is about to helm the world's second most populous country, and Indians will be looking to him to fix many of the country's societal dynamics and economic struggles. On the eve of Modi's impending win, here is a look at what he will inherit along with the PM appointment.

Comprising more than 1.2 billion people, India is the world's fourth largest economy. Four hundred million Indians live in poverty, a number much greater than the U.S. population, and 217 million of India's poor are children. Forty percent of all the world's impoverished children live in India.

The average annual per capita income decreased in recent years. In 2011, the number was $1,410 and in 2013, a Gallup survey reported that the annual median income per capita was $616.

An estimated 300 million people live off the national electrical grid. Those who live on the grid face constant service disruptions.

You are more likely to die in a bombing in India than Afghanistan. Not only is India the sixth most dangerous place in the world, but the chances of getting hit by a bomb in the country is higher than in war-torn Syria or Afghanistan. Only Iraq and Pakistan rank worse.

Primary education has progressed by being universalized. But only 10% of the working-age population has completed secondary education.

India's new prime minister undoubtedly has his work cut out for him. With such a densely populated and impoverished country to lead, improving economic instability as well as the country's infrastructure will be challenging, even with the majority lower parliament in his pocket.


Over 400 Million People Live in Poverty in India — Can Their New Leader Change That? - PolicyMic

 

[Android]

Poverty in India is concentrated in India mostly on 8-9 states and the power and responsibility of uplifting poverty from the states mostly lies with State Governments while Central Government mostly concerns itself with issues of National Significance like Foreign Relations, International Trade and Currency, Military policy, Space policy, Nuclear policy etc.

 

[Sugarcane]

Poverty in India is concentrated in India mostly on 8-9 states and the power and responsibility of uplifting poverty from the states mostly lies with State Governments while Central Government mostly concerns itself with issues of National Significance like Foreign Relations, International Trade and Currency, Military policy, Space policy, Nuclear policy etc.

Already looking for excuses?

 

[madooxno9]

This decade is very crucial for economy and poverty . By the way this guy here on pic has got 2 proper legs and 2 working hands . These people are poor by choice .

 

[Android]

Already looking for excuses?

excuses??? read my post again. You see the central government can mostly initiate measures to help state governments in eradicating poverty its the responsibility of state governments of how much they can extract benefits from those measures. That's the reason why the level of poverty varies so heavily among various states.

 

[dawn_news]

''You are more likely to die in a bombing in India than Afghanistan. Not only is India the sixth most dangerous place in the world, but the chances of getting hit by a bomb in the country is higher than in war-torn Syria or Afghanistan. Only Iraq and Pakistan rank worse.''

India not much better yet they make jokes about about bombs in Pakiistan, typical hindu behavior.

 

[sincity]

Will Modi perform miracle and walk on water?

 

[Mr.S.Singh]

why do i get a feeling that people don't want india to come out of poverty, you challenge everyone who tries to bring India out of poverty, success or failure we are bloody trying ! the failure is ours and success is ours, if i can't help atleast don't stand there and smug!

 

[jbond197]

Already looking for excuses?

Do we really need to give excuses to a Pakistani? Who do you think you are?

 

[Sugarcane]

Do we really need to give excuses to a Pakistani? Who do you think you are?

I am the one who forced you to write this post.

 

[Indian Jaat]

LOL Pakistanis are behaving like they are worried about Indian Peoples . I think they should care about their population living under poverty and its also huge according to their total population and GDP

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Low per capita means a lot of potential for growth.

 

[cloud_9]

PM's job is not to reduce poverty but facilitate an environment where people who want to get out of poverty are able to do so.

 

[saikumar]

NARENDRA MODI WILL WORK FOR THE UPLIFTMENT OF THE POOR

 

[S10]

Modi will cure AIDS! Modi will perform miracles! Everything will be find now that Modi is here.

Reading some comments here reminded me of cult of personality during Mao Zedong's reign. It's not a sign of a healthy society to look to one person as saviour.