Lok Sabha Question No. 2026 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-06
Subject: Mortality Rate of Children
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Ramashankar  Vidharthi Rajbhar

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION 2026 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH DECEMBER 2024

## MORTALITYRATE OF CHILDREN

## 2026: SHRI RAMASHANKAR RAJBHAR:

Will the MINISTER of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the mortality rate of children between the age of 0-5 years;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any study in this regard, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any steps have been taken to minimize the mortality rate among children of tender age group in rural areas of the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

- (a) and (b): The Office of Registrar General of India (ORGI) conducts demographic survey in all States/Union Territories to provide estimates on child mortality under Sample Registration System (SRS) report.

As per the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) 2020 report of Registrar General of India, the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) is 20 per 1000 live births, the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is 28 per 1000 live births and the Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) is 32 per 1000 live births at National level.

- (c) and (d): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) supports all States/UTs in implementation of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH + N) strategy under National Health Mission (NHM) based on the Annual Program Implementation Plan (APIP) submitted by States / UTs. The details of interventions to improve child survival all across the country are placed at Annexure.

Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) and (d) of Lok Sabha US Question No. 2026 for answer on 06.12.2024

The details of interventions to improve child survival all across the country are placed as below:

-  Facility Based New-born Care: Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs)/ Special New-born Care Units (SNCUs) are established at Medical College and District Hospital, New-born Stabilization Units (NBSUs) are established at First Referral Units (FRUs)/ Community Health Centres (CHCs) for care of sick and small babies.
-  Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is implemented at facility and community level for low birth weight/ pre-term babies. It includes early and prolonged skin-to-skin contact with the mother or family member and exclusive and frequent breastfeeding.
-  Mother Newborn Care Units (MNCUs) are established with the aim of 'zero separation' of mother and baby including small and sick babies who require newborn care.
-  Community Based care of New-born and Young Children: Under Home Based New-born Care (HBNC) and Home-Based Care of Young Children (HBYC) program, home visits are performed by ASHAs to improve child rearing practices and to identify sick new-born and young children in the community for referral to health facility.
-  Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is implemented to provide 11 vaccines to protect children against 12 preventable diseases.
-  Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK): Sick infants up to one year of age are entitled to free treatment in public health institutions along with the provision of free transport, diagnostics, medicines, blood and consumables.
-  Mothers' Absolute Affection (MAA): Early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for first six months and appropriate Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices are promoted under Mothers' Absolute Affection (MAA).
-  STOP Diarrhoea campaign is implemented for promoting use of ORS and Zinc and for reducing morbidity and mortality due to childhood diarrhoea.
-  Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) initiative has been implemented since 2019 for reduction of childhood morbidity and mortality due to Pneumonia.
-  Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK): Children from 0 to 18 years of age are screened for 32 health conditions (i.e. Diseases, Deficiencies, Defects and Developmental delay) under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) to improve child survival. District Early Intervention Centres (DEICs) at district health facility level are established for confirmation and management of children screened under RBSK.
-  Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) are established at public health facilities where children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and medical complications are admitted for treatment.