14,526 children died in last three years in Maharashtra: State Health Minister

Maharashtra Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar on Friday, December 12, 2025, announced that 14,526 children between zero and five years of age have died in seven districts of the state in the last three years.

In a written response to the question of BJP MP Sneha Dubey, Mr. Abitkar said, “In the last six months, 14,526 child deaths occurred in the zero-five age group, while 303 SAM children and 2,663 MAM children aged 6 months and under 6 years registered in the state lost their lives.”

Sneha Dubey questioned whether it was true that 49,080 children from zero to five died in Pune, Mumbai, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nagpur, Amravati, Akola and Yavatmal districts in the last three years despite implementation of schemes worth millions of rupees to prevent child deaths in the state.

To which Mr. Abitkar replied: “That is partly true.” He admitted that in the tribal areas of the state, especially Palghar district, as many as 138 children aged 0 to 6 years had died due to serious diseases in the last six months and several others had died due to malnutrition. It also acknowledged the lawmakers’ question whether 269 children suffered from serious illnesses, 68 children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and 835 children with Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM).

Giving the figures, Abitkar stated that we have achieved the goal of reducing the neonatal mortality rate (NMR) set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030. “According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) Survey 2023 published in September 2025, the NMR of the state of Maharashtra is 11 per 1,000 births, achieving the SDG target,” he added.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals have set a target of reducing NMR to less than 12 per 1000 births.

Legislators also sought to reduce the infant mortality rate (IMR) and maternal mortality rate (MMR) to zero. He asked whether the recommendations of the Abhay Bang committee were being implemented and whether the government was informed about the progress. He listed the programs currently being implemented.

Applied schemes

“Under the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS), various initiatives have been taken to provide complementary nutritious food to reduce malnutrition,” Mr. Abitkar said.

He listed various schemes implemented under ICDS to “prevent” the problem. These programs include Abdul Kalam Amrit Aahar Yojana (Tribal Project), SAM Special Initiative for Children, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Suposhit Mumbai and Children’s First Golden 1000 Days Campaign.

While programs such as Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Matritva Abhiyan, Janani Suraksha Yojana, Janani Shishu Suraksha Program were implemented under the Ministry of Health, health infrastructure and services were provided for Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU), Newborn Stabilization Unit (NBSU), Comprehensive Breastfeeding Management Center (CLMC), Nutrition Rehabilitation Center (NRC), Home Newborn Care (HBNC) and Home Baby Care (HBYC). Per the public health department.

Other programs include “Ma” – Absolute Mother Love (MAA), Anemia-Free India Vitamin A Programme, Stop Diarrhea Campaign, Social Awareness and Action to Neutralize Pneumonia (SAANS) and National Child Health Program (NCHP).