Madhya Pradesh: More Infants Die In Villages, Moms In Cities: SRS report

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Infant deaths are more frequent in rural Madhya Pradesh, while maternal deaths are alarmingly high in urban areas—particularly in government-run medical colleges. The latest Sample Registration System (SRS) report, released in June 2025, paints a grim picture of the state’s public health imbalance.

Madhya Pradesh continues to record the highest Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in the country at 40, while the national average stands at 26. Manipur has the lowest IMR at 3. This means MP’s IMR is 60% higher than the national figure.

The report highlights the urban-rural divide in health outcomes. Rural MP reports an IMR of 43, while urban regions record 28, showing that infants in rural areas are 1.5 times more likely to die before turning one.

Experts say this reflects a lopsided fund allocation, with more resources directed to urban areas, despite the worse health outcomes in rural belts.

On the maternal health front, 60% of maternal deaths in MP occur in Government Medical Colleges, all located in urban pockets, and another 20% in district hospitals. This trend points to serious shortcomings in urban healthcare delivery.

Jan Swasthya Abhiyan India (JSAI) national convener Amulya Nidhi said, “MP’s IMR is 60% more than the national average. The rural IMR is 43 while urban is 28, which shows a clear gap. Even with more funding to urban facilities, 60-70% maternal deaths are happening in government medical colleges. This reflects poor fund utilisation and a failure of the state’s public health system. Experts say this reflects a lopsided fund allocation, with more resources directed to urban areas, despite the worse health outcomes in rural belts.

On the maternal health front, 60% of maternal deaths in MP occur in Government Medical Colleges, all located in urban pockets, and another 20% in district hospitals. This trend points to serious shortcomings in urban healthcare delivery.

Jan Swasthya Abhiyan India (JSAI) national convener Amulya Nidhi said, “MP’s IMR is 60% more than the national average. The rural IMR is 43 while urban is 28, which shows a clear gap. Even with more funding to urban facilities, 60-70% maternal deaths are happening in government medical colleges. This reflects poor fund utilisation and a failure of the state’s public health system.”

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