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WHAT IS INDIA?
Within the three months of October, November and December, 1918, India lost 70 lacs (7 million) of persons by influenza alone. A ghastly and dreadful sight was then seen by those who survived to suffer the pangs of life.
No other countries in the world have fallen prey to these deadly diseases in this manner and lost so many people.
Further, the figures of infant mortality are appalling! More than 20 lacs (2 million) of babies in India die every year as soon as they see the light of the day. Speaking about this, the semiofficial report of the Government of India "India in 1922-23 " states: "It has been calculated that every year no fewer than two million Indian babies die; while many of those who survive continue weak and feeble through unhygienic surroundings in their infancy. Indeed, although birth registration is still too inaccurate to make precise figures reliable, it may be stated with confidence that one in five, or perhaps even one in four, of the infants born in India dies within the first year of life. In crowded cities, particularly industrial cities, the rate is still higher."
Compare the infant mortality rate in India with that of other countries and you will find that we are losing our man-power very heavily in this country.
Countries.
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1. England and Wales
2. France
3. Belgium
4. Germany
5. Spain
6. Italy
7. Japan
8. India
Rate per
100 children
born living.
7.5
8.5
10.7
10'8
14:5
16.1
16.6
19:4
The following figures will show that in our industrial cities the infant mortality rate is still higher.
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Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
