31 percent of Indians are 'suffering': survey
More than three out of 10 Indians are "suffering", an increase from 24 percent last year, a survey from global polling group Gallup showed Monday.
A total of 31 percent of Indians aged 15 and older rated their lives poorly enough to be considered as "suffering", while 56 percent were "struggling" and only 13 percent were "thriving", Gallup said.
About 5,000 people were surveyed across India, with respondents asked to rate their current lives and future expectations on a scale of zero to 10.
Gallup said the results might have been skewed by the timing of the survey -- before harvest time in early 2012, which meant many farmers "likely had gone without pay for several months".
No further explanations for the increase in suffering were given, but Indians have been struggling with rising inflation and high interest rates which have resulted in slower economic growth.
The country recorded economic growth of 6.9 percent in the last fiscal year, the second slowest pace in a decade.
Gallup noted that education seemed to play a big role in the mental well-being of respondents with most in the "suffering" category having the lowest educational qualifications.
"Suffering levels among the most educated and the least educated Indians suggest the gaps between the haves and have-nots may actually be widening," Gallup said.
(c) 2012 AFP
