3,533 infants died within first hour after the birth in Maharashtra, reveals RTI.

Money Life: Jenika Shah: Mumbai: Wednesday, April 18, 2018.

Malnutrition is emerging as one of the biggest contributing factors in the rise of infants and child mortality rate. In Maharashtra, 3,533 infants died within first hour after their birth, reveals a reply received under Right to Information (RTI) Act.

As per reply received by RTI activist Chetan Kothari, in Mumbai alone, 424 infants have lost their lives within the first hour after the birth and 15,314 infants have died during first 12 months of their birth. Pneumonia and diarrhoea are also accountable for the death of 111 babies and 12 babies, respectively, the reply reveals.

“The figures have increased now and it is a serious problem. The Maharashtra Government is not taking it seriously and they should provide more facilities in the rural and remote places to the poverty stricken people,” says Mr Kothari.

According to the RTI activist, Maharashtra is witnessing rise in number of infants and child mortality. Malnutrition and not being able to receive food, which provides nutrition to the pregnant mother, are the two reasons behind rise in infant mortality, he says. 

Earlier, the state Health Department had denied information to Mr Kothari about infant deaths in Maharashtra. Mr Kothari had to file an appeal before the State Information Commission (SIC) to get the information. In an order passed in January this year, Information Commissioner AK Jain, directed the Health Department to provide information before 30 January 2018.