Learn More About Room to Read India

Room to Read India's Literacy Program is the country's only children’s education program that teaches both literacy skills and reading habits. Our Girls’ Education Program supports girls to finish secondary school and works with government stakeholders to advocate for girls' education.

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Opportunities Unevenly Distributed

With a population over 1.3 billion, India is home to one sixth of the world’s total population and the world’s largest democracy. Since becoming an independent nation in 1947, India has gone from depending on grain imports to building a booming agriculture industry that exports more than it imports.

Over the last decade in particular, the World Bank reports that India has achieved steady economic growth to make it the third largest global economy in terms of purchasing parity. The World Bank also notes that India has seen success in decreasing poverty rates – from 46 percent twenty-five years ago to 13.4 percent in 2015.

Despite these economic improvements, prosperity has not been felt equally around the country. While some areas are progressing, others still struggle to provide basic services and lift their citizens out of poverty. India’s population is also uniquely young and has the largest number of children in the world, with more than 41 percent of the population below the age of 18. This burgeoning young population needs access to quality education in order to continue to reduce poverty, achieve gender equality and grow the job market.