India, China lag in social growth

Rapid economic growth in countries like India and China has not helped accelerate social development in the two countries.

In fact, the pace of decline in the under-five mortality rate has slowed down during the period, according to UNICEF's state of world's children report 2005.

"Countries that have significantly and sustainably reduced poverty have done so by simultaneously addressing economic and social issues rather than giving exclusive priority to macroeconomic stability or economic growth," it says.