Background

In India, an estimated 26 millions of children are born every year. As per census 2011, the share of Children (0-6 years) accounts 13% of the total population in the country. An estimated 15.5 lakhs children die every year before completing 5 years of age. However, 79% of under-five child mortality takes place within one year of the birth which accounts nearly 11.6 lakhs infant deaths whereas 56% of under-five deaths take place within first one month of life accounts 8.7 lakhs neo-natal deaths every year in the country.

As a part of UN Millennium Development Goals; India is committed to reduce child mortality by 2/3rd of 1990 by year 2015. India had Infant Mortality Rate of 80 per 1000 live births in 1990 and MDG is 28. IMR has declined by 12 points in the decade 1990-2000. Thus, showing about 15% decline in IMR during the decade 1990-2000 and during 2000-1005. However, IMR decline has accelerated by 4% annually during the NHM period and thus 24% decline from 2005 to 2011. At present, IMR stands at 44 per 1000 live births. On the other hand, rural-urban differential of IMR was observed to be very wide before the NHM period. This gap has narrowed down during the period of 2005 to 2011 from 24 to 19 due to intensive programs aimed at rural populations.

Under five-mortality rate is 55 per thousand live births (SRS 2011), showing a 19 point decline since 2005-06 (NFHS III). A 14 point decline was observed in just three years between 2008 and 2011. Neonatal Mortality Rate is 31 per thousand live births (SRS 2011), showing a slow decline of 6 point since 2005.Child Health strategies under RCH II/NHM are designed to achieve the goals and objectives for child survival committed in NHM, the XIth Plan and Millennium Summit (MDGs). The Reproductive and Child Health programme (RCH) II under the National Rural Health Mission (NHM) comprehensively integrates interventions that promote child health and addresses factors contributing to Infant and Under-Five Mortality.