Poverty, illiteracy major problems despite economic growth: VP

Vice President Hamid Ansari today expressed concern over India's long-standing problems of poverty and illiteracy, pointing out that the country has the world's highest number of poor as well as the adult illiterate persons.
Speaking at the fifth convocation of Krantiguru Shyamji Krishna Verma Kutch University in Bhuj today, Ansari said the underprivileged must be brought into the mainstream.
"Though India has achieved significant economic growth after the 90s, our country still ranks 135th among 187 nations in Human Development Index of United Nations. India is having highest number of poor in the world. With 28.7 crore adult illiterates, India is having highest number of adult illiterates in the world," he said.

To improve this situation, he called for greater attention to the overall development of SCs, STs, OBCs, women and minorities, and asked the new generation to work towards bringing them into the mainstream.
He also stressed inclusive growth of all the people through the economic growth and called for collective efforts by various stakeholders, such as the Centre, state governments, corporates, non-government organisations as well as citizens.
As many as 3,806 students from various streams received the degrees during the convocation.