India ranks third in Saarc in child mortality

India with 48 reported deaths per 1,000 live births has the third-highest child mortality rate among Saarc countries, PTI reported.

Union women and child development minister, Maneka Gandhi said that India's under-five child mortality rate was 48 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Afghanistan had the highest rate at 91 followed by Pakistan 81.

"In India, the office of the Registrar General of India regularly releases reliable estimates of child deaths in terms of 'under-five mortality rate', using data collected through Sample Registration System," Gandhi said.

According to Office of the Registrar General $ Census Commissioner, the U5MR, estimated as number of child deaths per 1,000 live births, was recorded at 85, 77, 59, 55, 52 and 49 in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

She added that India would also likely miss the target of reducing 'under-five mortality rate' by two-third, though 'narrowly'.

According to the latest India Country MDG monitoring report titled Millennium Development Goals: India Country Report 2015, the 'under-five mortality rate' was estimated at 125 deaths per 1000 live births in 1990.

In order to achieve the target, 'under-five mortality rate' was to be reduced to 42 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2015.

As per SRS 2013, the 'under-five mortality rate' is at 49 deaths per 1000 live births and would likely to reach 48 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2015, ''missing the target narrowly," she added.