The decline in MMR has been most significant in Empowered Action Group of States and Assam from 375 to 308, a fall of 18 per cent.
In order to meet the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goal (MDG), India’s needs to achieve the MMR of 109 by 2015, a feat already achieved by Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Four other states - Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat and Haryana - are close to the MDG target.
Experts attribute the improving trend to increased general awareness among people and schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana,which entitles all pregnant women, delivering in public health institutions, to absolutely free and no expense delivery including Caesarean section.
The SRS data on Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) - number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births – has registered a marginal decline of 3 points to 50 in 2009 from 53 in 2008.
Unfortunately, female IMR continues to be higher than male IMR, indicating a worrisome trend for the government.
The maximum infant mortality rate has been reported from Madhya Pradesh (67) against the national average of 50, while Kerala, again, is among the earliest to achieve the MDG target of 28, well ahead of the set date.
However, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) – average number of children born to a woman during her entire reproductive period – remained stationary at 2.6 during 2008 to 2009 after showing a decline during last few years.
Bihar reported the highest TFR at 3.9 while Kerala and Tamil Nadu had the lowest rate at 1.7.
At present, on average, a rural woman, (having a TFR of 2.9) at the national level, would have about one child more than an urban one(having a TFR of 2.0).
