Half of Indian women are anaemic: India Development Report

NEW DELHI: Over a half of Indian women suffer from anaemia and a higher number of Muslim infants compared to national average (in 2005-06) lived beyond their first birthday, says a report released on Friday.
The "India Human Development Report 2011", prepared by the Institute of Applied Manpowerresearch, a Planning Commission body, says there is an increasing trend of anaemia 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.