Half of Indian women are anemic: IHD Report

The "India Human Development Report (IHDR) 2011", prepared by the Institute of Applied Manpower research, a Planning Commission body, says there is an increasing trend of anemia among women of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Muslims. The report says Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Muslims are converging with the infant mortality rate (IMR) national average. It states further that the fall in infant mortality rate has been sharper in the case of ST as compared to SC.

The report also says life expectancy has increased consistently but at a very slow pace. "Life expectancy at birth in poorer states like Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh in 2004 was lower than the country`s average in 1992-96. Kerala, on the other hand, has life expectancy at birth at 74 years, which is comparable to developed countries of the world, it adds.

The report also points out that despite the National Rural Health Mission in place, India faces a dismal position in terms of health infrastructure - both physical and manpower. Comparing with China, it says India has 9 beds per 10,000 population as compared to 30 in China.