Under National Rural Health Mission, earlier 264 districts were
identified based on DLHS-3 (2007-08) data. Now, 184 priority districts
have been identified based on the results of recently released Annual
Health survey in Nine Empowered Action group (EAG) States and available
DLHS 3 data. The priority districts have been identified by their
relative rankings within a state. Using a composite index, bottom 25%
of the districts in each state have been identified as high priority
districts. Beside this, tribal districts falling in the bottom 50% of
the districts in a state have also been included. The list of high
priority districts is annexed.
This is a recent initiative under National Rural Health Mission. The
additional resources and priority attention is being paid to these
districts for strengthening all the interventions related to mother and
child health care. These districts are being monitored intensively
through Health Management Information System, technical assistance and
regular field visits.
This information was given by Minister of State for Health & Family
Welfare Shri Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, in written reply to a question in
the Lok Sabha today.
