Soon 714 million Indians head to the polls
Soon the entire subcontinent of India will have a job. They must go to their nearest polling place and elect a new government. No one is making predictions on this election other than to forecast that whatever unwieldy coalition government is elected, they have a tough road ahead. The global economic crisis has not failed to hit India, slowing growth for the first time in years. Despite the influx of three stimulus plans, which dramatically increased the deficit, the nation is still struggling, and none more than the poorest. Here with an election guide is Somini Sengupta, the South Asia bureau chief for the New York Times.
Without federal support, local stations, especially in rural and underserved areas, face deep cuts or even closure. Vital public service alerts, news, storytelling, and programming like The World will be impacted. The World has weathered many storms, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to being your trusted source for human-centered international news, shared with integrity and care. We believe public media is about truth and access for all. As an independent, nonprofit newsroom, we aren’t controlled by billionaire owners or corporations. We are sustained by listeners like you.
Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World.