Nearly 3 children drown everyday in Sunderbans: Survey

A survey conducted by George Institute in collaboration with CINI revealed that nearly three children in the age group of one to nine years die from drowning daily in Sunderbans of West Bengal. As per WHO data in 2016, India contributes to 19 per cent of the global drowning burden.

Kolkata: Nearly three children in the age group of 1-9 years die from drowning every day in Sunderbans of West Bengal, a survey said.

The community-based joint survey conducted by the George Institute in collaboration with the Child in Need Institute (CINI) between June to September 2019 was primarily aimed
to determine the drowning mortality rate among children aged 1 to 4 years and 5 to 9 years. The study is titled titled "Determining Child Mortality in the Sundarbans India: Applying the Community knowledge approach"

Minister of State of Sundarbans Affairs, Manturam Pakhira said upon inquiry that the state department had no such data "We will, however, look into the matter and take necessary steps to address the problem," Pakhira told on Sunday.

"The drowning mortality rate among children aged 1-4 years in the region was 243.8 per 1,00,000 children while among the 5-9 years age group it was 38.8 per 1,00,000 children. It was found that 58 per cent of the deaths were among the children aged between 1 to 2 years," according to the survey. There was no difference in drowning rates between boys and girls, the study revealed.

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It is stated in the study that most children drowned in ponds within 50 metres of their homes. Children were usually unaccompanied with their primary caretaker engaged in household work. Few children were treated by formal health providers.

The survey adopted a unique community knowledge approach and meetings were held with residents and key informants to identify drowning deaths in the population.

The Sundarbans delta - a UNESCO world heritage site is spread across North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts of the state. World Health Organisation (WHO) data had said, out of the 360,000 people, who drowned fatally across the globe in 2016 included more than 50 per cent of children aged under 15 years.

More than 90 per cent of fatal drownings occur in low to middle-income countries and India contributes to 19 per cent of the global drowning burden with estimated 60,000 deaths every year, as per WHO data.

(PTI)