Infant Mortality Rate continues to be high in Orissa. It is recognized that about 60 % Infant deaths occur during neonatal period (first four weeks of life). Most of these deaths are due to pre-maturity, low birth weight, respiratory infections, diarrhea and malnutrition. It is also acknowledged that infant mortality is higher in lower socioeconomic groups residing in backward tribal districts of Orissa. Notwithstanding the fact that several strategic interventions are being implemented to reduce MMR and IMR, the decline has been marginal.

In the year 2001 when IMR was 97 per 1000 live births, the State Govt. decided to lunch IMR Mission to focus more on interventions addressing more proximal determinants of infant mortality. The strategy was.