IMR reduces from 53 in ''03 to 50 in ''09

New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) In long-awaited good news,Infant Mortality Rate in India has reduced from 53 per 1,000live births in 2003 to 50 in 2009.

Revealing the figures, Union Health Minister GhulamNabi Azad today said, despite the reduction, the governmentneeds to focus more on the 264 districts identified across thecountry as being less developed as far as health parameterswere concerned.

Apart from this, the health ministry was would focuson nine least developed states like Jharkhand, Orissa andUttar Pradesh in order to meet the Millennium DevelopmentGoals.

The health records which were being gatheredstate-wise till now, will now be procured district wise thattoo on an yearly basis instead of the five-year period invogue till now, Azad told reporters here.

The minister said that the government was alsocontemplating encouraging home deliveries through Ashas inareas where health care was not adequate.