India is a huge and complex country where numbers are always vast. There are over 1.2 billion people with another 51 born every minute. Christians make up only 2.3% of the population but that equates to 24 million. 42% of Indians live on less than US$1.25 a day (the World Bank's international poverty level) - 456 milion. Micah Challenge, with one staff member and lots of volunteer support, is working to bring God's justice perspective to this nation of booming wealth and grinding poverty.

Micah Challenge has been working in Nagaland and Jharkhand, two states most in danger of failing to meet MDG targets. Nagaland, a largely Christian area is one of the North Eastern states where 57% of people live in extreme poverty. Jharkland, in eastern India is the second poorest state with 77% of people in poverty.

Sixty leaders met at Dimapur, Nagaland and 80 came to a meeting in Ranchi, Jharkland.

Micah Challenge India has put together material outlining government planning for anti-poverty schemes eg on education. The meetings discussed the material and real life situations - many pastors admitted they knew nothing of the anti-poverty programs. An action pack shows churches how they can access the services promised to them. Micah Challenge asks pastors and leaders to go home to train others and begin follow-up actions of kindness and justice.

Three more meetings with pastors are planned in February and March, all led by David Jayakumar, the MC coordinator, with expert input from people working in health and education. The consultations will bring together leaders in some of the poorest parts of the country - Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya and Bihar. Music concerts after the meetings will draw lots of people in the evening.

In April, Micah Challenge is planning a meeting in Delhi with 25 national MPs, most of them Christians, to discuss policy asks. There will be a focus on Health (Mortality rates) and Education (universal primary education). Social exclusion is linked to every problem, so that may also be on the agenda. The policy asks on education, health and equality to overcome social exclusion, are being finalised now after consultation with various anti-poverty NGOs.

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