India achieves significant landmarks in reduction of Child Mortality

Source: The post is based on the article “India achieves significant landmarks in reduction of Child Mortality” published in The Hindu on 24th September 2022

What is the News?

Registrar General of India (RGI) has released the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2020. According to the report, India has witnessed a progressive reduction in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) and Neonatal Mortality Rate(NMR).

What are the key findings from the report?

Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR): It has shown a significant decline from 35 per 1000 live births in 2019 to 32 per 1000 live births in 2020. It varies from 36 in rural areas to 21 in urban areas.

– U5MR for females is higher (33) than for males (31). 

– The highest decline of U5MR is observed in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.

– 11 States/UT have already attained the SDGs target of U5MR (<=25 by 2030): Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Maharashtra, J&K, Karnataka, Punjab, West Bengal, Telangana, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): It has registered a 2-point decline to 28 per 1000 live births in 2020 from 30 per 1000 live births in 2019. The Rural-Urban difference has narrowed to 12 points (Urban 19, Rural-31). No gender differential has been observed in 2020 (Male -28, Female – 28).

Neonatal Mortality Rate: It has declined by 2 points from 22 per 1000 live births in 2019 to 20 per 1000 live births in 2020. It ranges from 12 in urban areas to 23 in rural areas.

– Six (6) States/ UT has already attained the SDG target of NMR (<=12 by 2030):  Kerala, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab.