Did You Know?

Picture of neglect

Q1.Women and children bear a disproportionate burden of poverty in the developing world. What is the incidence of poverty on the children of India?

The national average is a staggering 26% of the child population below the poverty line; Orissa performs the worst with 47% and Delhi at 8% fares worse than the other Union Territories.

Q2.The 10th 5-year-plan had targeted an Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of 45/1000 live births by 2007. Where do we stand today?

The national average is at 63 deaths before the first birthday, per 1000 live births. Kerala fares the best at 14/1000.

Q3.Diarrhoea kills 400,000 children under-5 every year. How many people have access to adequate sanitation facilities?

The India average is a miserable 36%. The Sub-Saharan Africa figure is at 53%.

Q4.Anemia has a serious impact on learning capacity, productivity and survival. How do Indian women and children fare?

74% of under-3 children, 95% of adolescent girls and 52% of married women in India are anemic.

Q5.Single disease focus in a campaign mode helps to increase coverage in that area (e.g. polio). It does not necessarily strengthen the regular immunization programme. Are our children protected from preventable diseases?

Only 44% of Indian children between 12-23 months are fully immunized. Bihar is the worst offender with 21% and Tamil Nadu at 95% surpasses Himachal Pradesh at 88%.

Source: Mapping India’s Children, UNICEF in Action, 2004