The Zakat Foundation of America

India

As the world’s second-most-populous nation, India’s fast growing economy is often seen as an example for other developing countries to follow. Yet, this country of 1.1 billion people still has at least 410 million people living in poverty.  Amongst them, 238 million Indians are described as being chronically hungry. Crushing poverty and malnutrition remain harsh realities for millions of Indians.

Other pressing issues facing the country include: adequate educational opportunities for the region’s poor, environmental degradation and pollution, an impending public health crisis with the epidemic rise of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, as well as India’s increasing vulnerability to natural disasters, especially earthquakes, floods, droughts, cyclones and landslides.

Muslims make up approximately thirteen percent of India’s population and remain amongst the poorest community in the country.  They have not fared well within the traditional Indian caste system, which marginalizes them religiously, socially and economically by limiting their access to quality education and employment.

South India Flood Relief

In November 2009, Southern India was hit by the worst flood the country has experienced in almost a century. More than 300 are dead and over 2.5 million people are homeless as floodwaters submerged farmland and towns, causing billions of dollars of damage. More than a million people crammed into government temporary housing, but the scale of the disaster has… continue reading »