Srinagar, May 22: Newborns in Jammu and Kashmir are more vulnerable to death in comparison to any other state, a survey by the Census Department has cautioned.
The survey under Sample Registration System (SRS) has shown that J&K was recording the highest death rate among neonates belonging to the age group of below 29 days.
“J&K has Infant Mortality Rate of 43 per 1000 children and out of these deaths at least 37 are recorded before a baby attains age of one month,” said an official in the Census Department. “This is the highest percentage of neonatal death in any major state in the country.”
The phenomenon is acute in rural J&K where the death rate recorded is 40. In urban J&K the figures are 25.
In comparison, the neonatal mortality rate at national level is 34, three deaths below the rate in JK.
“The high percentage of the neonatal deaths in J&K indicates poor child healthcare system,” said Assistant Registrar General, SRS, JK, CS Saproo. “Though funds are allocated by Government of India and State Government for upgradation of healthcare system in J&K, the results are not visible on ground. There is increase in the neonatal deaths.”
J&K has total child population of 20,08,642 in the age group of 0-6 years, according to Census 2011.  While 12 districts of Kashmir region including Ladakh has 12,24,621 child population, the figures are 784021 for 12 districts of Jammu.
After J&K, Himachal Pradesh has recorded higher percentage of neonatal deaths to the IMR (78 percent) followed by Maharashtra (77 percent), West Bengal (76.3 percent), Gujarat (71 percent) and Uttar Pradesh (70.8 percent).
Even the Peri-natal mortality rate in Jammu and Kashmir is 38 newborns. The PMR is defined as number of infant deaths of less than seven days per one thousand. J&K stands only at fifth position in terms of PMR after Madhya Pradesh (45) Chhattisgarh (45), Uttar Pradesh (43), and Himachal Pradesh (40).
Saproo said the survey has recorded more neonatal deaths and that too of female girl children in rural Jammu and Kashmir.
“The health institutions in rural areas are not strong and there are more incidences of female feticides. It (SRS) has corroborated the census results of 2001 which showed low sex ratio in the age group of 0-6 years. It is alarming for the society,” Saproo said.
Though the IMR has gone better from 51 deaths per thousands children in 2007 to 43 fatalities in 2011, however, the state continues to be part of the group of the states with high rate of child deaths. In 2007 total number of infants deaths recorded were 11697 while the figures have gone down to 9875 in 2010.
Saproo said there is need not only to strengthen the health care system at district level but at Tehsil levels too. “Though overall death rate has come down in the state the neonatal deaths are still happening,” he said.
The SRS is undertaken after every six months to register new deaths and births, he said.

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