India Insights

Heralded for providing an alternative to begging the UK’s Big Issue magazine is set to apply its experience to India’s estimated 170 million homeless by providing opportunity of legitimate income. The magazine has recruited a team of Mumbai and Kolkata journalists to oversee December’s launch of Big Issue India, 

While Indian pricing hasn’t been finalised it will follow the UK model, seller buys magazine for 70p, sells at £1.50, keeps profit of 80p per sale. 

With an estimated 17% of the worlds poor living in India slums the Big Issue faces a bigger challenge, to provide a sense of scale, according to the Guardian, its UK circulation in the last financial year was ‘just’ 4 million.

This launch wont solve a problem of such magnitude but it may trigger a rethink on tackling Indian homelessness. The creation of businesses specifically to tackle social problems offers the prospect of self-sufficiency and independence, something that charity alone can not.

What this move will do is provide a voice for those not heard, as difficult and taboo subjects find a forum for discussion.