Mumbai: Infant mortality continues to be a challenge in the state for the Fadnavis government. Even after five years in power the infant mortality rate continues to embarrass the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The minister for women and child welfare was embroiled in a chikki scam in the early years of the government. The infant mortality in Melghat continues to haunt the government.
The government had in its reply to the Bombay High Court admitted that over 500 infants have died in the last nine months and at least 150 miscarriages occurred in Melghat, a tribal area in Maharashtra.
From 2016-2017, in rural areas, 6.1 per cent children were moderately underweight, while 1 per cent were severely underweight out of 41,63,172. In tribal areas, 15.1 per cent children were moderately underweight and 3.2 per cent severely underweight out of 892,068. In urban areas, 15.2 per cent children were moderately underweight, while 1 per cent were severely underweight out of 1056,210.
From 2017-18, in rural areas, 6.4 per cent children were moderately underweight, while 1.1 per cent was severely underweight out of 39,97,399.
In tribal areas, 15.2 per cent children were moderately underweight, 3.3 per cent was severely underweight out of 8,64,534. While in urban areas, 14.4 per cent children were moderately underweight, while 0.9 per cent was severely underweight out of 10,22,987.
From 2018-2019, in rural areas, 6.3 per cent children were moderately underweight, while 1 per cent was severely underweight out of 38,75,381. In tribal areas, 15.1 per cent children were moderately underweight, 3.3 per cent was severely underweight out of 8,33,784.
While in urban areas, 13.8 per cent children were moderately underweight, while 0.8 per cent was severely underweight out of 10,54,895. The figures for 2019, are up to January only. The data was sourced from commissionerate of ICDS, Government of Maharashtra.
The state’s economic survey has conveniently omitted data for 2017, under the heads of Neonatal, under-5 and maternal mortality rates. When it comes to crude birth rates they have given the specifics.
There has been no change in the infant mortality rates and it actually reflects on the shortcoming of the Devendra Fadnavis government which has claimed they will take steps to ensure the rates will come down.
Crude birth rates indicate the number of live births occurring during the year per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. In 2014, crude death rate 6.0, in 2016 was 5.9 and 2017 was 5.7.
When it comes to women & child welfare, Govt has not outdone predecessor The infant (age less than one year) mortality rate, in 2014 was 22, in 2016 it was 19 and it stayed the same in 2017.
Crude birth rate has decreased in a decade from 18.1 2007 to 15.7 in 2017, it has declined more in rural areas than in urban.
The neonatal mortality rates have fallen from 2014, it was 16 per cent to 2016, when it was 13 per cent, thereafter the government has not given any figures of 2017 and has projected an anticipated rate of 9, for 2030.
Under 5 mortality was 23 per cent in 2014, it was 21 in 2016 and they have not shown any rates for 2017, but have shown a projected rate of 14 per cent for 2030.
There are no figures for maternal mortality ratio for the year 2017 and 2018. In 201-2013 the rate was 68 per cent, while 2014-2016 it was 61 per cent and no after skipping 2017-2018, the government has shown projection for 2030 at 19 per cent.
An interesting feature shows in Maharashtra, 53.5 per cent males have never married, while there are 42.5 per cent women, with a total of 48.2 per cent population that has never married.
There are 45.0 married males and 51.1 per cent women and a totla of 47.9 per cent are married. There are 1.5 per cent of divorced/separated/widowed males, 6.4 women and a total of 30.8 per cent of population is divorced/separated/widowed.
Crimes against women continues be a cause for concern, having gone up from 31,275 in 2016, to 33,557 in 2018.
The number of rape cases have barely declined. In 2016 4,189 rape cases were registered and provisional 2018 shown 4076 cases were registered. Kidnapping and abductions are on the rise. In 2016 there were 6,169 such cases while in 2018 (provisional) 7,727.
The number of molestation cases went up from 11,396 in 2016 to 14,075 in 2018 (provisional). Also the sexual harassment cases have risen 924 in 2016, to 1,064 in 2018.
Dowry deaths have registered a slight drop, as have cases of cruelty by husband and relatives. There were 248 dowry deaths in 2016 and 174 cases in 2018. There were 7215 cases of cruelty by husband and relatives in 2016, while the provisional number for 2018 is 5013.
In fact the section called, ‘other’ offences against women have risen from 831 in 2016, to 1,269 to 2018.
Figures provided by crime investigation bureau, Government of Mahrashtra. Crop production expected to decline by 8 per cent The irrigation department at the time, and since 1999, was held by ally NCP. Maha spent Rs 4.9K cr on drought relief
The Maharashtra government made available Rs 4,909.50 crore for drought relief in 2018-19, the state Economic Survey revealed on Monday, adding that the total affected area was 85.76 lakh hectare spread over 151 talukas.
It said the scarcity situation during the Kharif season of the just-ended fiscal affected 151 talukas in 26 district, comprising 112 talukas which reeled under severe drought and 39 talukas that experienced moderate drought.
Further it informed that, during April 2018, some 5,094 hectare were affected by untimely rain and hailstorm, for which compensation to the tune of Rs 8.15 crore was sanctioned in December. In May last year, 1,741 hectare were affected by rain and hailstorm for which Rs 2.93 crore was sanctioned in December.
