The group of parliamentarians from Europe said that the maternal mortality rate in the country was unacceptable, and asked the government to take steps to curb it.
A group of parliamentarians from Europe, on a five-day tour to India, on Tuesday, said that the high maternal mortality rate in the country was unacceptable, and asked the government to take steps to curb it.
Britta Thomsen, member of European parliament from Denmark, and one of the members of the group, said, "India is a very interesting place, but also a country full of contradictions.
On one hand, you have the country growing at a very fast rate, and on the other, there are women dying while giving birth. This is simply not acceptable."
Agreeing to Thomsen, Norbert Neuser, member of European parliament from Germany, said, "It is highly shocking that a woman dies giving birth in India every seven minutes. We learn that a lot of work is being done to prevent maternal deaths, but we feel much more needs to be done."
The MPs are visiting India from February 20 to 25 as part of European parliamentary forum on population & development. Centre for Health, Education and Nutrition Awareness (CHETNA) is hosting this parliamentary study tour.
The parliamentarians said they were impressed with the dedication of the staff during their visit to community health centres in Ahmedabad on Monday. They found the Chiranjeevi scheme impressive, and suggested that it should be replicated in other places. They, however, also called for better medical facilities, especially in rural areas.
The MPs will also visit Udaipur and New Delhi over the next three days, before concluding their visit. They will submit a report of their first-hand insights and experiences with the forum.
Indu Capoor, director, CHETNA, who is accompanying the group during their visit, said that high maternal mortality rate was intolerable in the "India of Today."
MP Britta Thomsen attributed the high maternal mortality rate to early marriage and malnutrition, and called for focusing on reproductive health and family planning to check it.
Veronique Mathieu, member of European parliament from France, and the only one among the group to have visited
India earlier, said the maternal mortality rate in the country had come down, but attributed it to efforts of local NGOs.
She, however, said that maternal mortality rate was still very high, and advised women to assert themselves more.
When asked how the European countries could help in alleviating the problem of maternal deaths in India, the MPs said that they will pitch for increased contact between European institutions and NGOs such as CHETNA.
"We will work together and contribute from our sides to help in checking the problem," they said.
The parliamentarians visited the historic Gandhi Ashram, and the Sarkhej Roza, before winding up the Ahmedabad leg of their visit. They had visited Adalaj ni Vav on Monday.
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