It's the right place, Baby !
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: October 22, 2012 -

Public response and comments to the news report on Manipur emerging next to Goa as the best place to be born have been simply mind-blowing with everyone wagging their tongues and dragging in unrelated issues like religion, politics, militancy and so forth and so on.

At the very outset, we should be very clear that the term, 'best place' being referred here is not the geographical location of the State or the suitable living condition of the people.

It is all about low Infant Mortality Rate (IMR).

As the report has pointed out, for every 1,000 live births, 11 babies die in Manipur as compared to 59 in Madhya Pradesh, which ranks as the worst place in the country to be born in term of IMR.

In Manipur, IMR has dipped to 11 in 2011 as against 14 in 2010.

Although Anuradha Gupta, the Chief of National Rural Health Mission has observed that reduction in annual infant mortality rate is largely due to tremendous increase in institutional deliveries and introduction of schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana since April 2005 to promote institutional delivery among would-be mothers by providing cash assistance, nonetheless in a poor and underdeveloped State like Manipur where even basic health care is still a far cry, we need to look beyond institutional deliveries to understand the factors behind this achievement.

Unlike their counterparts in other parts of the country, Manipuri women at least enjoy some freedom and have a say in the affairs not only of their families but also on important issues concerning the welfare of the State.

Of cause, there are some stray incidents of female foeticide or neglect of girl child or unwanted new born babies found being abandoned and that is the precise reason why such isolated events make news headlines.

So, the overall scenario here is such that arrival of a new life in the family is always welcomed with joy. It is look upon more as a part of the cycle of existence rather than any burden.

But the irony is that life is not a red of roses here. Even though the chances of survival of new born babies may be high, what the future holds for them is uncertain.

With its salubrious climatic condition and healthy environment, Manipur may be the best place to be born in, but definitely not an enviable place to live and grow up in with apprehension over security of life hanging heavy on the heads of everyone.

Anyway, from the report, we can at least rest assured that hospitals and other health institutes are the best place in Manipur for giving birth, and as for the rest, only God knows.