Understanding Disparities in the Child Mortality across Indigenous and Others Population in the State of Madhya Pradesh, India

Nazam Khan, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Delhi 110067
Tufail Jarul, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Delhi 110067

Indigenous tribals are one of the most exploited and deprived sections of the population in the Indian society. The oppression and exploitation of the indigenous tribals in India has been continuing for centuries from the British Colonial rule to Independence India. Madhya Pradesh is considered as the tribal heart of India where 46 tribes and their sub-groups have been identified throughout the region. In the context of the present paper, Child Mortality Rate (CMR) refers to the number of deaths in the first five years of life per 1000 live births, is a widely cited indicator of population health. This Paper aims to examine the disparity in Child Mortality Rate (CMR) across the Indigenous and Others Population in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India using National Family Health Survey Report-III and primary source of data. The results demonstrate that the major contributors to the high child mortality rates are the extremely low levels of health sector investments and associated quality of care in the tribal areas. The findings call for dedicated policies, in line with those already existing to improve the socio- economic status of the Indigenous in India, to tackle the rampant Child Mortality Rate among these tribals.

Keywords: The Demography of Indigenous Populations, Historical Demography

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