Eighty percent of the world’s population lives in what is categorised as the "developing world" and, according to the United Nations, this percentage is only expected to swell in the first half of the 21st century. Statistics indicate that the world’s population will steadily increase from six billion to over seven billion over the next fifteen years, and an overwhelming 95 percent of that growth will occur in the world’s poorest nations. This means that by 2015, over 6.5 billion people will be living in the "developing world."

The 2003 Human Development Report, brought out by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), reveals that India’s rank in the Human Development Index has dropped three notches to 127, among 175 nations. Despite this, the UNDP lauds India as one of the few countries on track to meet the Millennium Development Goal of halving the population living in poverty by 2015.

Achieving this target (despite the evidence to the contrary) would require a concerted effort by the government and development partners (like civil society organisations, co-operatives, trade unions etc.). Further, the capacity of development partners to function effectively in this ‘coalition of change’ needs to be strengthened.

In India, the states of Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, comprise 108 of the most backward and poorest districts in India, with over 100 million people below the poverty line.

The Poorest Areas Civil Society (PACS) programme, funded by Department for International Development (DFID) and managed by Development Alternatives and PricewaterhouseCoopers Pvt. Ltd. (PwC) seeks to strengthen the development partners working in the poorest districts of India. To be precise, PACS aims to promote a more strategic relationship with the Indian civil society organisations to make them more effective in helping poor people realize their entitlements.

Empowering the poor and marginalised population to articulate their needs, Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies will bring about awareness of their rights and increased security. It is then that they will play their appropriate role of bringing about better governance. There is no reason why a whole majority of poverty-stricken people must be condemned to living as less than a human being. Any cost incurred in humanising the marginalised poor is worth investing since the end result is invaluable in monetary terms.

The PACS programme has been launched with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and local partners in the 100 poorest districts of India in the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh. It is supported by projects that enable the poor and marginalised populations to realise their entitlements.

This initiative is consistent with Development Alternatives’ vision of providing sustainable livelihoods to the poorest and most vulnerable segments of the population.