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Facts About India

India has over 18 million street children - that is the population of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia combined.

Source: Government of India, 1991 Census and US City Populations, US Census, 2006

India has the largest population of street children in the world.

Source: United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Human Development Report, 1993

25 million children are orphans

47% of children under the age of three are malnourished

26% of the population lives below the income poverty line

2.2 million die before age 5 every year

Source: UNICEF State of the World's Children Report

Street children and India

"This must one of the few places on earth where the rich try to work off a few pounds in the gym, step outside and are confronted by a barefoot child of skin and bones begging for something to eat."

Source: Shekhar Kapur, Author, "India Inc.", Time Magazine, 06/26/06

"In terms of the under-nutrition levels, certainly India is at a much higher level than the average Sub-Saharan African country."

Source: Werner Schultink, Chief of child development and nutrition for UNICEF in India, February 21, 2007

"The survey confirms that India has done little for its children... Despite the excellent growth record for which India is getting greater and greater appreciation, efforts are still lacking and progress has been quite tardy in terms of women and children's health and nutrition."

Source: Shiv Kumar, Development Economist and Adviser to the Indian government