Countdown to 2015: An Analytical Tracking of Millennium Development Goals for Maternal and Child Mortality in India.

INTRODUCTION: Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are a set of numerical and time bound targets to measure achievement in human and social development. Of 8 MDGs, U5MR, IMR and MMR are of paramount importance in respect of different aspects of human development. In view of policy initiatives and investments made since 2000 in India, the analytical tracking of MDG 4 and 5, which calls for 2/3 rd reduction of under-five child mortality and three quarter reduction in maternal mortality ratio, respectively between 1990 and 2015 is required so as to monitor the progress. METHODS: The data for the present study was taken from Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementations, Govt of India. The analysis of progress towards MDGs 4 and 5 was carried out by using statistical tools. RESULTS: The U5MR which was 125 in 1990 declined to 59 in year 2010 (with 66 in rural and 38 in urban areas) against a target of 42 by 2015. Over the time the observed decline is more for male child than the female child, being 55 and 64 in 2010, respectively.