India's under 5 mortality rate sees 3-point decline; UP, Karnataka record highest dip: Report

New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) India's under 5 mortality rate has significantly declined by from 35 per 1,000 live births in 2019 to 32 per 1,000 live births in 2020, with the highest decline recorded in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, according to the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2020. According to the report released on Thursday by the Registrar General of India, the country has been witnessing a progressive reduction in infant mortality rate (IMR), under 5 mortality rate (U5MR) and neo-mortality rate (NMR) since 2014 towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets by 2030, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said. He thanked all health workers, caregivers and community members for relentlessly working towards reducing child mortality. “There has been a sustained decline since 2014, as revealed by SRS 2020. India is poised to meet 2030 SDG targets of child mortality under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji with focused interventions, strong Centre-state partnership and dedication of all health workers," the minister noted.

The Under 5 Mortality Rate for the country has shown a significant decline of three points (annual decline rate--8.6 per cent) from 2019 (32 per 1,000 live births in 2020 against 35 per 1000 live births in 2019). It varies from 36 in rural areas to 21 in urban areas. U5MR for females is higher (33) than males (31). There has been a decline of four points in male U5MR and three points in female U5MR during the corresponding period. Besides, the Infant Mortality Rate has also registered a 2-point decline to 28 per 1,000 live births in 2020 from 30 per 1,000 live births in 2019 (annual decline rate--6.7 per cent).

The maximum IMR has been observed in Madhya Pradesh (43) and the minimum in Kerala (6), the report stated.