3. Social Infrastructure- Achievements

1. Between 1950 to 1998, infant mortality rate have halved to 72 births per 1000 births-down from 146.

2. Life expectancy at birth has grown up from 32 years in 1950-51 to 63 years in 2000.

3. A child born in Kerala today can expect to live longer than a child born in Washington.

4. Life expectancy of women in Kerala is now 75 years.

5. India has put in place an extensive system of Public Health Services and medical network. In 1951, the country had only 725 primary health centers. By 1995, this has increased to more than 1,50,000.

6. The number of primary schools has increased significantly between 1951 and 1995 from 2,10,000 to 5,90,000.

7. Nearly 95 per cent of the villages have a primary school within a walking distance of one kilometer.