New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) India's girl child mortality rate continues to be "worrisome" with 2009 estimates suggesting 52 deaths within a year of birth out of every 1,000 live births.
"Absolutely, it is worrisome," remarked Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India C. Chandramouli, while releasing the sample registration system data of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) compiled by his office for 2009 here Thursday.
Though the girl IMR situation has improved compared to 2005 figures, the rate of girl child mortality is still on the higher side and it has remained so since 1990.
While the girl IMR was estimated to be 52 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2009, the comparative figure for boy child was just 49 deaths. The national rate was pegged at 50 deaths.
In 2005, the country recorded 61 girl IMR compared to 56 boy IMR, while the national average was 58. The figures are collated through a "verbal autopsy".
The national figures were released by Chandramouli's department under the home ministry in February this year, but the break up of boy and girl IMRs were released here Thursday.
As per the figures, the national IMR has fallen by three points from 53 in 2008 to 50 deaths in 2009. "However, every sixth death in the country pertains to an infant," Chandramouli lamented.
Madhya Pradesh had recorded the highest IMR with 67 deaths and the lowest in Kerala at 12 deaths per 1,000 live births.
IMR of 28 is the millennium development goal (MDG) set by the United Nations to be achieved by 2015.
While Kerala (12) and Tamil Nadu (28) have achieved the goal, Delhi (33), Maharashtra (31) and West Bengal (33) are close enough to achieve the MDG figures soon.
"The IMR for the country declined by 30 points -- rural IMR by 31 points vis-a-vis urban IMR 16 points -- in the last 20 years at an annual average of 1.5 points. Still, one in every 20 children nationally, one in every 18 children in rural areas, and one in every 29 children in urban areas, die within one year of birth, as against the MDG of one in every 37 live births," Chandramouli said.
The low girl IMR in India, particularly the rural areas, is generally attributed to the practice of infanticide.