For years, Haryana’s infant mortality rate remained a stubborn public health challenge — a number that reflected gaps in maternal care, nutrition, and access to quality healthcare for the most vulnerable. Now, that number has changed. The state’s infant mortality rate (IMR) has dropped from 28 to 24 deaths per 1,000 live births over the past five years, bringing it in line with the national average for the first time.
How Haryana’s IMR Declined by 14% in Five Years
According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2024, Haryana recorded 24 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in the latest survey period. This marks a nearly 14% decline from the previous figure of 28 deaths per 1,000 live births five years ago. The improvement is not marginal — it represents hundreds of additional infants surviving their first year of life across the state.
Why This Drop Matters for Haryana’s Mothers and Children
Every infant death prevented means a family spared from tragedy. For Haryana, reaching the national average is a significant milestone in a state that has historically struggled with maternal and child health indicators, particularly in rural and underserved districts. The decline signals that government health programs are beginning to reach those who need them most — pregnant women, new mothers, and newborns in critical first days of life.
What Drove the Improvement: Maternal Care and Infrastructure
Additional Chief Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Sumita Misra, attributed the decline to “targeted interventions in maternal and newborn healthcare, along with continued investment in healthcare infrastructure and community-based services.” These interventions likely include better antenatal care coverage, institutional delivery rates, newborn resuscitation training, and improved nutrition programs. The state has also expanded primary health centres and trained community health workers to reach remote areas.
Official Response: ‘Haryana Has Now Reached the National Average’
Sumita Misra confirmed the achievement, stating: “Haryana has now reached the national average in IMR and continues to make sustained progress.” The statement underscores a shift from catching up to maintaining momentum. Officials are now focused on sustaining these gains and pushing further below the national average in the coming years.
What the SRS Report 2024 Tells Us About Haryana’s Health System
The Sample Registration System is a large-scale demographic survey conducted by the Registrar General of India. Its 2024 report provides one of the most reliable estimates of infant mortality at the state level. For Haryana, the data reflects not just a single year’s effort but a cumulative improvement over half a decade — suggesting systemic change rather than a temporary fluctuation.
Confirmed Facts vs What Remains Unclear
Confirmed: Haryana’s IMR declined from 28 to 24 per 1,000 live births over five years. The state now matches the national average. The improvement is attributed to maternal and newborn healthcare interventions and infrastructure investment. Unclear: The exact breakdown of which districts or demographic groups saw the most improvement. The specific impact of individual programs (e.g., nutrition schemes, institutional delivery incentives) has not been isolated in the official statement. Future targets beyond matching the national average have not been publicly detailed.
Risks and Challenges Ahead for Haryana’s Child Health Gains
While the decline is encouraging, public health experts caution that sustaining progress requires continued funding and focus. Rural-urban disparities remain a concern — some districts may still have IMRs significantly higher than the state average. Malnutrition, anaemia in mothers, and access to emergency neonatal care in remote areas are persistent challenges. Any disruption in health budgets or program implementation could stall or reverse the gains.
Wider Trend: India’s Improving Infant Mortality Picture
Haryana’s achievement mirrors a broader national trend. India’s IMR has been steadily declining over the past decade, driven by government initiatives like the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), Mission Indradhanush, and the National Health Mission. However, wide interstate disparities remain — states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh still report IMRs well above the national average. Haryana’s progress shows that targeted state-level efforts can close the gap.
What This Means for Families in Haryana
For a pregnant woman in rural Haryana, the decline in IMR translates into a higher chance that her baby will survive infancy. It also reflects improved access to skilled birth attendants, better postnatal care, and stronger referral systems for high-risk pregnancies. For families, this is not just a statistic — it is the difference between hope and loss.
What Should Happen Next: Sustaining and Deepening the Gains
Health officials and policymakers should focus on district-level data to identify lagging areas. Strengthening neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in district hospitals, expanding community-based newborn care, and addressing maternal nutrition are logical next steps. Public awareness campaigns on breastfeeding, immunisation, and danger signs in newborns can further reduce preventable deaths.
Future Outlook: Can Haryana Go Below the National Average?
With sustained investment and targeted interventions, Haryana has the potential to reduce its IMR further — possibly below the national average in the next five years. Achieving this would require addressing the root causes of infant mortality, including preterm births, birth asphyxia, and infections. The state’s current trajectory is positive, but the hardest part — reaching the most marginalised communities — remains.
Our Take
Haryana’s decline in infant mortality is a genuine public health success story — one that reflects years of consistent policy effort rather than a quick fix. The fact that the state has matched the national average is significant, but the real test lies in whether these gains can be sustained and extended to every district. For now, the data offers a rare piece of good news in India’s complex health landscape, and a template for other states still struggling with high IMR.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Haryana’s current infant mortality rate?
Haryana’s IMR is now 24 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the SRS Report 2024, down from 28 five years ago.
How does Haryana’s IMR compare to the national average?
Haryana’s IMR of 24 matches the national average, meaning the state is no longer lagging behind the rest of India.
What caused the decline in Haryana’s infant mortality rate?
Officials attribute the decline to targeted maternal and newborn healthcare interventions, improved health infrastructure, and community-based services.
Is Haryana’s infant mortality rate still high compared to other states?
At 24 per 1,000 live births, Haryana is now at the national average. Some southern states like Kerala (IMR around 6) have much lower rates, while several northern states remain above the national average.
What is the Sample Registration System (SRS) report?
The SRS is a large-scale demographic survey conducted by the Registrar General of India that provides official estimates of birth and death rates, including infant mortality, at state and national levels.
