(a) whether India has failed to meet the goals set at a summit for children;
(b) if so, whether India had committed itself a goal to reduce the infant mortality rate by one-third by the year 2002 but it was only able to lower it from 80 to 60 per thousand live births;
(c) if so, the main reasons for not achieving the goal;
(d) whether the Union Government has drawn up an action plan in this regard during the Tenth Five Year Plan; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI A. RAJA)
(a) to (e) The World Summit for Children held in 1990 adopted a Declaration that included goals for the survival, growth and development of children. As per the `Progress-Statistical Review` released by UNICEF for the UN General Assembly Special Session for Children held in New York from 8-10 May, 2002 India`s rate of progress regarding most indicators has been higher than the global average.
As per latest information, the nutritional and health status of the children have improved significantly. The severe form of under-nutrition has come down from 15% in 1975 to 6.4% in 2001. Further, the infant mortality rate has reduced from 146 in 1951 to 68 in 2000. The National Population Policy 2000 aims to further reduce the infant mortality rate to below 30 per thousand live births by the year 2010. Immunization, essential newborn care, provision of facilities for prevention of deaths due to acute respiratory infections and dehydration due to diarrhoea, and promotion of exclusive breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding practices are being provided for reducing the infant mortality rate.