The facts about India in the report are as alarming as ever: HIV/AIDS has infected 0.6 per cent males and 0.4 per cent females under the age of 25, which is much higher than in China, which has an infection rate of 0.01 per cent males and 0.02 per cent females. Unicef estimates that 5,70,000 young males and 3,40,000 young females are infected with HIV/AIDS in India.

Erma Manoncourt, deputy director of Unicef, India, says that with such rates of infection, ``India must make the prevention of HIV/AIDS a priority. HIV/AIDS constitutes the greatest threat many societies have ever faced. In the past, we have seen an increasing level of awareness and commitment in the struggle against HIV/AIDS in India. But despite the recent progress, much more is needed to protect the population.''

Progress 2000 clearly shows that young people, especially girls in India, often do not know about HIV/AIDS and means of protection against it.

Manoncourt suggests that disseminating information and empowering these people should be a priority. Moreover, she feels, that the government, civil society, bilateral and multilateral donors must step up their efforts in India, if an HIV epidemic similar to Africa (where 30 per cent of the population is already infected) is to be prevented.

But it is not just for higher rates of HIV infection that India stands out like a sore thumb in the report. The immunisation levels in the country are at a low of 73 per cent compared with the Asian average of 82 per cent. In 1999, Indian accounted for the highest number of deaths among infants and mothers due to tetanus-more than 48,000 of the 2,00,000 deaths worldwide.

Polio levels here are also the highest in the world despite the Pulse Polio Programme. ``Eight states have not been able to carry out proper pulse polio immunisation camps and now the government is concentrating on these states,'' claims Shoban Sarkar, head of the Central government's pulse polio campaign.

Progress 2000 focusses on four issues: HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, immunisation and unacceptable forms of child exploitation. ``All four issues are relevant to India,'' says Manoncourt. ``India hosts the largest number of young people with HIV/AIDS, the highest number of malnourished children, the highest number of polio cases and working children.''

``The HIV/AIDS infection rates in India are not as high as in Africa. But it will not be long before India sees millions of its citizens dying of AIDS,'' Manoncourt warns. She says young people, who have the highest rates of infection, are also the best people to disseminate information and contribute to prevention efforts.

But Progress 2000 is not just a harbinger of bad news. It has some good news too. Global immunisation rates have gone up from 10 per cent in 1980 to 77 per cent in 1999. The UN goal of 90 per cent immunisation is still far off, but more reachable now, the report says. The report also calls for an entire new generation of vaccines to achieve immunisation for all and vanquish growing diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS.

The report also draws attention to the worst forms of child rights violations, such as child labour on farms and factories, sexual exploitation, child soldiers and street children. Official figures for such children in India have been put at 17 million; however, some NGOs claim 100 million, while UN statistics put the figure at 50 million. ``A country cannot develop if its children are prevented from reaching their potential,'' says Manoncourt. The UN will review the progress made by nations on the Convention on Rights of the Child adopted 10 years ago at the end of 2001. ``What is good for children is and must be a human development priority for everyone,'' the report concludes.