Child care? Gujarat No 1 in institutional deliveries, but poor in other health indicators

By Jag Jivan
In a curious disclosure, a top Government of India (GoI) study, “Healthy States, Progressive India Report on the Ranks of States and Union Territories”, has found that, while “model” Gujarat ranks No 1 in institutional delivery of babies, in sex ratio at birth it is one of the worst – 854 girls as against 1000 boys.
Prepared by the GoI’s powerful policy-making body headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Niti Aayog, with the “technical” support of the World Bank, the report has found the “proportion of institutional deliveries” in Gujarat is a whopping 97.8%, much higher than Kerala (92.6%).
However, as for sex ratio, only two major Indian states perform worse than Gujarat: Uttarakhand (844/1000) and Haryana (831/1000).

The top policy-making body – which is headed by Amitabh Kant, a high-flying bureaucrat, who replaced well-known Columbia University economist Arvind Panagariya – does not say what the reason is for this odd paradox.
Yet, the data do suggest that in under-five mortality rate (U5MR) as many as 11 major states perform better than Gujarat, with a U5MR of 39 per 1000 live births, with the best performer being Kerala (U5MR 13/1000), followed by Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, and Andhra Pradesh.
Similarly, in the proportion of low birth weight among newborns, the states which perform better than Gujarat (10.5%), are seven (Telangana, Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh); in full immunization, nine states perform better than Gujarat (90.6%): Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.

Interestingly, while the report does not seek to explain the paradox of high institutional deliveries, which are in stark contrast to poor indices of early child care, another set of data of the top policy-making body reveals the poor state of Gujarat’s health care delivery system.
Thus, Gujarat has a 28.1% shortage of Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), who are necessary during institutional deliveries at sub-centres, up from 17.1% in a year; just one state out of the 21 major ones analysed, Bihar, is found to have a still higher shortage of (59.3%) ANMs.
The situation is identical with regard to the the shortage of staff nurses at Primary and Community Health Centres (PHCs and CHCs). While Gujarat’s shortage is 36.5%, only five of 21 major states have a still higher proportion of vacancies – Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar and Jharkhand.

Then, Gujarat has a 32.2% vacancies of medical officers at PHCs, higher than 16 of 21 major states; and 55.5% vacancies of specialists in district hospitals, higher than all states but three (Uttarakhand, Bihar and Chhattisgarh).
Further, Gujarat has 43% “functioning” First Referral Units, worse than 14 other states; 31.5% “functional” PHCs, worse than 13 other states; and 48.5% cardiac care units, worse than seven other states.
One may find it amusing, yet, the fact is, despite these data, while measuring the “state of health”, the report has placed Gujarat fourth best among 21 major states. Only three states perform better than Gujarat in the “composite index score” – Kerala (76.5 on a scale of 100), followed by Punjab (65.21), and Tamil Nadu (63.38). Gujarat’s score is 61.99.

On its methodology, the report states: “The index was developed by Niti Aayog with technical assistance from the World Bank… in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), States and UTs, domestic and international sector experts and other development partners.”

Comments

Uma said…

Gujarat only shines for businessmen who shine😁

February 13, 2018

siva said…

Thank you for your awesome service to the child. During early and middle childhood, the brain forms and refines a complex network of connections in the brain through synaptogenesis, pruning, and myelination. The process of forming connections is biologically driven, but experiences also promote synapse formation.
concentration exercise for student
child concentration exercise in Chennai
maths tuition in Chennai
right brain training in Chennai
kids brain training in Chennai
memory improvement technique in Chennai
brain development training in Chennai

November 21, 2019

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

CFA flags ‘welfare retreat’ in Union Budget 2026–27, alleges corporate bias

By Jag Jivan The advocacy group Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has sharply criticised the Union Budget 2026–27 , calling it a “budget sans kartavya” that weakens public welfare while favouring private corporations, even as inequality, climate risks and social distress deepen across the country.

From water scarcity to sustainable livelihoods: The turnaround of Salaiya Maaf

By Bharat Dogra We were sitting at a central place in Salaiya Maaf village, located in Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh, for a group discussion when an elderly woman said in an emotional voice, “It is so good that you people came. Land on which nothing grew can now produce good crops.”

'Big blow to crores of farmers’: Opposition mounts against US–India trade deal

By A Representative Farmers’ organisations and political groups have sharply criticised the emerging contours of the US–India trade agreement, warning that it could severely undermine Indian agriculture, depress farm incomes and open the doors to genetically modified (GM) food imports in violation of domestic regulatory safeguards.

When free trade meets unequal fields: The India–US agriculture question

By Vikas Meshram The proposed trade agreement between India and the United States has triggered intense debate across the country. This agreement is not merely an attempt to expand bilateral trade; it is directly linked to Indian agriculture, the rural economy, democratic processes, and global geopolitics. Free trade agreements (FTAs) may appear attractive on the surface, but the political economy and social consequences behind them are often unequal and controversial. Once again, a fundamental question has surfaced: who will benefit from this agreement, and who will pay its price?

Why Russian oil has emerged as the flashpoint in India–US trade talks

By N.S. Venkataraman* In recent years, India has entered into trade agreements with several countries, the latest being agreements with the European Union and the United States. While the India–EU trade agreement has been widely viewed in India as mutually beneficial and balanced, the trade agreement with the United States has generated comparatively greater debate and scrutiny.

Trade pacts with EU, US raise alarms over farmers, MSMEs and policy space

By A Representative A broad coalition of farmers’ organisations, trade unions, traders, public health advocates and environmental groups has raised serious concerns over India’s recently concluded trade agreements with the European Union and the United States, warning that the deals could have far-reaching implications for livelihoods, policy autonomy and the country’s long-term development trajectory. In a public statement issued, the Forum for Trade Justice described the two agreements as marking a “tectonic shift” in India’s trade policy and cautioned that the projected gains in exports may come at a significant social and economic cost.

From Puri to the State: How Odisha turned the dream of drinkable tap water into policy

By Hans Harelimana Hirwa, Mansee Bal Bhargava Drinking water directly from the tap is generally associated with developed countries where it is considered safe and potable. Only about 50 countries around the world offer drinkable tap water, with the majority located in Europe and North America, and a few in Asia and Oceania. Iceland, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, and Singapore have the highest-quality tap water, followed by Canada, New Zealand, Japan, the USA, Australia, the UK, Costa Rica, and Chile.

Michael Parenti: Scholar known for critiques of capitalism and U.S. foreign policy

By Harsh Thakor* Michael Parenti, an American political scientist, historian, and author known for his Marxist and anti-imperialist perspectives, died on January 24 at the age of 92. Over several decades, Parenti wrote and lectured extensively on issues of capitalism, imperialism, democracy, media, and U.S. foreign policy. His work consistently challenged dominant political and economic narratives, particularly those associated with Western liberal democracies and global capitalism.

Search This Blog