Agartala: Tripura has achieved its lowest-ever Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), according to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) bulletin released by the Registrar General of India. The state's IMR for 2024 fell to 12 deaths per 1,000 live births, significantly below the national average of 24.
This figure represents an improvement over Tripura's previous best of 15 in 2023. The SRS bulletin also reported a birth rate of 15 per 1,000 population and a death rate of 5.9 per 1,000, both better than the national averages. Tripura's natural growth rate stood at 9.1, compared with the national figure of 11.9.
Healthcare Improvements Credited
Kiran Gitte, Health and Family Welfare Secretary, attributed the decline to strengthened healthcare services. He cited improved antenatal and postnatal care, expanded immunisation coverage, nutrition programmes, and increased institutional deliveries as key factors. Gitte also credited healthcare professionals and frontline workers for expanding access to essential services and improving maternal and child health outcomes.
Government Initiatives
Chief Minister Manik Saha, who holds the health portfolio, pointed to upgrades in Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs), Newborn Stabilization Units (NBSUs), community health initiatives, and immunisation drives. "We have emphasized the necessity of maintaining focus on rural healthcare access, child nutrition, and early childhood interventions," Saha said.
