India Witnessed a Significant Decline in Infant Mortality Rate

India has recorded a significant reduction in infant mortality rate compared to last year. Apart from this, deaths at birth have also decreased and there is also a decrease in gender ratio differences.

According to data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the infant mortality rate has decreased by 3 points, which is 8 percent of the total mortality rate, an improvement aided by various government’s initiatives, including strengthening healthcare services, free maternal and newborn health services, quality assurance and promoting awareness regarding the benefits of breastfeeding and immunization. In 2015, the infant mortality rate (IMR) was 37 deaths per 1000 births which has declined to 34 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2016.

Not only that, for the first time, the mortality rate at birth has also been declining. Compared to 2015, it has recorded 90,000 less in 2016. Infant mortality has decreased from 9 lakh 30 thousand to 8 lakh 40 thousand in 2016. This is the first time when India has witnessed a decrease in Infant Mortality rate. 

The decrease in the gender ratio gap has also been recorded in the Sample Registration System (SRS) Bulletin released from Ministry. It has recorded a decline of less than 10 percent, giving a major boost to the government’s ongoing initiative “Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao.”

The country has also recorded a substantial decline in birth cohort (babies born during a particular period of year) to below 25 million for the first time, the bulletin said.

The decline in infant mortality rate has been recorded among all the EAG (Empowered Action Group) states and Assam except Uttarakhand. There is a decline of 4 points in Bihar, while Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand have witnessed a decline of 3 points. Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Orissa have recorded 2 points fall. However, infant mortality rate has increased in Tripura and Uttarakhand by 4 points, 2 points in Manipur and 1 point in Daman and Diu.

PSM-India appreciates the government’s effort and initiatives which has helped our country to achieve these remarkable figures and further urges the government to identify and target the region, which has the worst infant mortality rate (IMR) and healthcare coverage.