Children are important asset of a nation, therefore reduction in infant and child mortality is likely the most important objective of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Infant and child mortality rates reflect a country's level of socio-economic development and quality of life and are used for monitoring and evaluating population, health programs and policies. It is an outcome rather than a cause and hence directly measures results of the distribution and use of resources. This study attempts to examine the pattern of the relationship between child nutrition, infant mortality rate and poverty reduction over the period 1992–93 to 2005–06. The trend of the data shows that in case of malnourished children, the reduction in the first period (1992–93 to 199899) is higher than the second period (1998–99 to 2005–06). Only some states such as Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Assam have changed their position and turned to be worst performer with an increase in the number of underweight children. Same is true in case of infant mortality rate. Himachal Pradesh was the best performed state in first period and become worst performer in the second period with an increase in the deaths of infant children. The rate of poverty reduction was much higher in the first period in comparison to second period. Some states show an increase in the poverty level in the second period. From the trend of the data it has been observed that changes were not satisfactory in the second period.
Poverty, Data formulation, BPL
