For mothers,India not a happy place: study

The survey divided countries into more developed,less developed and least developed ones and drew up separate lists on the basis of well-being of mothers and children including their health,education and economic status.

According to the index,India even scored less than many nations in sub-Saharan Africa,including Botswana (51),Cameroon (73) and conflict-ridden Congo (74). Cuba tops the Mother’s Index ranking among “less developed” nations followed by Israel,Cyprus and Argentina.

Pakistan is two places behind India while China,which is clubbed with India for “growth stories”,is ranked much higher at 18th spot. Sri Lanka is at 43rd place,while Bangladesh is ranked 18 in the list of 40 “least developed countries.”

In the Mothers’ Index for more developed countries,Norway is at the top followed by Australia and Iceland.

The report analysed a total of 164 countries,among which Afghanistan had turned out to be the world’s toughest place to be a mother being ranked at the bottom.

Despite progress in reducing maternal mortality and child mortality,the report says that India still ranks as one out of 12 countries that account for two-thirds of under-five child deaths and maternal deaths in the world.

As per the survey,only 53 per cent of births in India are attended by skilled health personnel while female life expectancy is 66 years. Under-five mortality rate was 66 per 1000 live births and percentage of children under five who are moderately or severely underweight stands at 48.

“Every year in India 68,000 women die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Twenty lakh newborns die annually,” Shireen Miller of Save the Children India said.

“With relatively modest investments in basic training,supervision and support,female frontline health workers can deliver low-cost health interventions that can save the lives of thousands of mothers and their children,” she said,calling for more government investment for maternal and child health.

Aparajita Gogoi,national coordinator of White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood,feels that changing mindsets in the society is the key along with ensuring accountability in implementing government schemes.

“Women’s health are not anybody’s priority. They get into a life-cycle where first the girl child eats less and suffers from under-nutrition. Many develop anaemia. Then she is married off at young age and has no decision-making power on when she wants a child or how many she should have.”