DFID announces 'Three Indias' plan

London June 14 (UNI) Britain's Department for International Development(DFID) is contemplating a three-fold plan, 'Three Indias', over the next five to ten years to promote growth and development in India.

The DFID yesterday announced here its plan to work with 'Three Indias' namely 'Global India','Developing India' and 'Poorest India'.

Making the announcement of the new plan before parliamentarians, civil society groups and members of the Indian diaspora, British Development Minister Gareth Thomas said, that India's disparities are "startling". "Home to over a billion people, who have the right to vote in free and fair elections, but whose children are so hungry they cannot remember what they hear in school, should they be lucky enough to get there at all,'' he said.

The DFID announcement cites 'Global India' as the modern face of India which has an important role to play in international affairs, being a source of growth. The 'Developing India' is the India of small farmers, micro enterprises, village industries with some links to the modern economy and of the people with low incomes close to or below the poverty line. 'Poorest India' comprises of marginal farmers, migrant slum dwellers, others living in extreme poverty and the people facing discrimination and social exclusion.

Citing the realities of 'Poor India', Mr Gareth said that a big hitter in global debates on trade and climate change, where millions of women take their lives into their own hands when making the decision to bear a child- five per cent dying during labour. ''This is a side of India many forget or just don't see,'' he noted.

The DFID has launched a 90-day consultation period seeking suggestions from the public on 'Three Indias' approach.

It has also started a public debate on 'how UK aid is spent in India'. All those interested can view the consultation document at www.dfid.gov.uk/consultations/india-cap.asp and also email their comments to [email protected] by September 10 2007.

UNI