IMPACT OF FEMALE LITERACY RATE IN REDUCING INFANT MORTALITY RATE IN INDIA

A nation's socio economic development is implanted by human development goals. United Nations put forward millennium development goals in 2000 where infant mortality is an indicator to observe progress towards the fourth goal by the year 2015 that is to reduce child mortality. Infant mortality rate is considered as an indicator of the health status not only for infants but also for the socio economic status of a country. The prevailing high infant mortality has been a matter of concern from the pre independence period. Female literacy is regarded as a key instrument for the empowerment of women. A wide regional variation in female literacy and infant mortality rate is a common feature in India. There has been a strong relationship between female literacy and infant mortality. Various studies suggest that economic growth, improvement in income, mother's education and medical infrastructure have contributed successfully in declining infant mortality rate. The present paper attempts to understand the statewide variation of infant mortality rate in India and determines the factors affecting decline in infant mortality rate. The study examines that female literacy rate is significant at 1% level with expected negative sign. i.e. infant mortality rate is negatively related with female literacy. Higher the female literacy rate lower will be the infant mortality rate.