J&K bags 7th position as Infant Mortality Rate declines

By: Sameer Lone

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir has emerged among the top 10 states that have succeeded in bringing down Infant Mortality Rate (IMR).

According to the data from the Sample Survey System (SSS), which is collated and brought out by the Office of Registrar General of India, the October 2021 Sample Survey System reveals that Jammu and Kashmir has recorded an IMR 20 in the year 2019, which is much lesser than the national average of 30 as per the survey.

IMR is calculated as death per 1,000 live births of babies under the age of one year.

As per the survey, all the states in India have made a substantial improvement in IMR during the years 2014 and 2019.

According to Precious Kashmir Correspondent, Jammu and Kashmir as per the survey has bagged the seventh position among the states and UTs with least number of baby deaths born each year.

Prior to it, the Union Territory has recorded an IMR of 34 in 2014, which had reduced from 45 deaths per 1000 births in 2009.

As per the survey, Kerala has topped with just six deaths per 1000 births. It is the only state with a single digit figure and had recorded an IMR of 12 in 2014.

Kerala is followed by Delhi with an IMR of 11, Tamil Nadu (15), Maharashtra (17), Punjab (19) and West Bengal (20).

The states, which saw greatest slowing down in improvement of IMR are Madhya Pradesh (46), Uttar Pradesh (41), Assam (40), Chhattisgarh (40), Odhisa (38) and Rajasthan (35).

Doctors as well as the administration credited the upgrading of health infrastructure and availability of women centric schemes behind the improvement in IMR of Jammu and Kashmir.

It is widely believed that incentivised health care schemes have equally contributed for low IMR in Jammu and Kashmir.

Related Articles