India likely to miss MDG on reducing under-five deaths:Experts

The SRS data,released recently,shows that India has registered a 3-point decline in IMR — from 53 in 2008 to 50 in 2009 — and reduction of five points in U5MR from 69 in 2008 to 64 in 2009.

It also said that Kerala and Tamil Nadu (with IMR 12 and 28 respectively) have achieved the MDG target and four more states are close to the targets. The IMR in Delhi was 33,while it was 31 in Maharashtra and 33 in West Bengal.

Similarly,it said that in U5MR,states like Kerala (14),Tamil Nadu (33),Maharashtra (36),Delhi (37) and West Bengal (40) have already achieved the MDG target of 42 by 2015.

But according to experts,these states constitute only 22.6 per cent of India’s under-5 population as against the Empowered Action Group States which constitute 63 per cent of the population.

“We know that some states are doing better than others in reducing the deaths of children under 5 years. But it remains that five to six states are keeping India from achieving the MDGs and it is here that we need to concentrate our efforts,” said Thomas Chandy of international NGO Save the Children.

“Some states,as the SRS data says,may have made some progress,but the country as a whole has a long way to go. It’s not the time to get complacent and efforts from all quarters are needed to save thousands of children who are dying of preventable causes like pneumonia and diarrhoea,” said Dola Mahapatra,Director ChildFund India.

Echoing similar views,Ashok Kumar,National Advocacy Convenor of Campaign Against Child Labour,said the situation on ground is still alarming as only a few percentage of people are getting access to proper health care system.

“Although some states have done well in reducing the IMR,the situation in others states is not satisfactory,” said Mahapatra.

According to the SRS data,one in every 20 children still die within one year of birth in the country – against one in 37 as per the MDG.

Moreover,neo-natal mortality rate (number of infants die within a month),and post neo-natal mortality (within 11 months) has declined by one point and two points respectively.

“This is an area of huge concern as even according to SRS 2008,57 per cent of infant mortality was accounted for by neo-natal mortality,” Chandy of Save the Children pointed out.

“An overall decline in under-five mortality of four to five points has been observed annually and this is not very significant,” he said.

So far the maternal mortality rate is concerned,the data shows there is a 17 per cent decline from 254 in 2006 to 212 in 2009. MMR measures number of women dying of pregnancy related causes per 1,00,000 live births.

Experts said that even with this decline,India may miss the 2015 MDG deadline of MMR at 109 and IMR at 28.

“Now is the time when we must shed our complacency and show political will matched by budgetary support to stem this silent epidemic of 1.16 million children dying every year before they turn one,” Chandy said.