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Kids born in Kerala, Delhi likely to have longest lives Read more: Kids born in Kerala, Delhi likely to have longest l

NEW DELHI: It isn't called God's own country for nothing — going by life expectancy statistics, Kerala will be the best place in India to be born in, followed by Delhi. An average Indian, in 2021, will live four years more than today. But Keralas average will exceed India's by about six years. According to the Union health ministry's latest projections, the life expectancy at birth (LEB) the average number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the same year of an Indian male will be 69.8 years in 2021 compared to 65.8 at present and 63.8 years in 2001. In comparison, an average Indian woman can expect to live to 72.3 years by 2021, compared to 68.1 now and 66.1 in 2001. According to projections published in the latest Family Welfare Statistics 2009, a male child born in Kerala is expected to live till 75.2 years by 2021 while a female child will live till 78.6 years. The second best place will be Delhi where the LEB for a man will be 73.5 years in 2021 and 77.4 years for a woman. At present, an average male in Delhi lives till 71 years of age while a female lives till 74.8. With the thrust we are giving to reducing neonatal deaths, the life expectancy of an average Indian is bound to increase, Union health secretary K Sujatha Rao told TOI. Though it has been stagnant at around 63 years for the past decade, it will increase by at least six years in the next decade. An interesting projection made by the ministry is that women in most states will live more than 70 years by 2021, the exceptions being Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh (69.5), Madhya Pradesh (69.3) and Assam (68.8 years). However, the LEB of men will be below 70 years in a lot more states. Men will live to be over 70 (in 2021) in a few states Himachal Pradesh (72.4), Gujarat (71.9), Punjab (71.5), West Bengal (71), Maharashtra (70.9), the north-eastern states except Assam at 70.9, Tamil Nadu and Bihar at 70.6 and Karnataka at 70 years. In comparison, men in Rajasthan will live till 69.6 years, Jharkhand 69.5, Andhra Pradesh 69.4, Jammu and Kashmir 69.2, Uttarakhand 68.5 years in 2021, Uttar Pradesh 68.7, Madhya Pradesh 68, Orissa 67.8, Assam 67.1 and Chhattisgarh 66.5 years. Rao said, we are increasing institutional deliveries and giving incentives to women coming to a hospital to deliver their child. This way, we cut down on deaths at birth. Besides, we have started home-based neonatal care by community health workers for women who return from an institution delivery. This way, we are reducing deaths of children within the first month of life on account of low weight. She added: We are also starting sick new born units in all district hospitals for these children. Neonatal and infant mortality directly affects life expectancy. As far as women are concerned, the LEB in 2021 in Himachal Pradesh will be 76.1 years, Gujarat 74.9 years, Punjab 74.8 years and Maharashtra 74.7. Females born in Karnataka will have a LEB of 74.5 years by 2021, West Bengal 74.3, Tamil Nadu 74, Haryana 73.7 years, Andhra Pradesh 73.3 and Rajasthan 73.1 years. Pointing out some interesting facts, a health ministry official said, At present in 2010, males born in only two states Delhi (71.4) and Kerala (72) live beyond 70 years of age. This will increase to three states in 2011 and six in 2016. In comparison, women in 10 states live beyond the age of 70 at present. This will increase to 13 states in 2011, 17 states in 2016 and 19 states in 2021.

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