On April 7 while the whole world was observing World Health Day, an estimate on life span for Indians came out. As per the recent estimate, India’s life expectancy for a child born on April 7, 2021 is 69.4 yrs.

India’s life expectancy is less than the world’s average lifespan of 72.81 years. This projection is from SRS (Sample Registration System) based Abridged Life tables (2014-18) of Register General and Census Commissioner, Government of India. This report is presented up to the age group of 85 plus in order to reflect the mortality rate in a suitable way.

Further, the report allows a comparison with the life tables prepared by United Nations. The SRS report is the most reliable and predictable technique of communicating the most fundamental and essential facts about the age distribution of mortality. In addition to this, it is also considered as a powerful tool for measuring the probability of life and death of various age groups.

The SRS data, life tables have been prepared for the periods 1970-75, 1976-80, 1981-85 and 1986-90 at every five yearly intervals.

Since the 1986-90 issue, life tables have been brought out annually on a five yearly moving average basis so as to form a continuous series. Life expectancy is defined as the number of years of life a person can expect at given age. It is calculated from a life table on the basis of age and sex in the concerned country. Current mortality levels and mortality patterns at different ages within the population play a determinant role in this life expectancy measurement.

It is statistically witnessed that mortality rate between birth and first birthday is comparatively high. So life span at birth is lower than life span after year one. Anyhow globally life expectancy at birth is the most favourable and widely accepted indicator.

Life expectancy is the reflection of two yardsticks such as health standards of the given country and socio-economic living standard of people of that country. Let’s analyse life expectancy in India. In last 50 years there is an increase of approximately 20 years of life span for every Indians. As per SRS report in 1970-75 life expectancy of Indians was only 49.7 years.

As per the current estimate, there is a remarkable range gap of life expectancy between national average and States' average. For example, life expectancy in both Kerala and Delhi is 75.3 years which is approximately 6 years more than national average. These two States are in top ranks.  Life expectancy in the lowest rank State like Chhattisgarh is 65.2 years, which is 4 years less than national average.

Rural India’s life span for a child born on April 7 2021 is 68 years whereas urban India shows a little bit higher side of 72.6 years of life expectancy.  The gap of life expectancy between rural and urban India has been narrowing down. As far as sex is concerned, females are projected to live more than males.

In India an average life expectancy of female is 70.7 years and for male it is 68.2 years. If a child survives its first one year from his birth in India then the life expectancy increases to 71.1 years from 69.4 years. Average life expectancies of male and female child surviving through first one year are 69.8 years and 72.5 years respectively. 

As said earlier life expectancies are different in various age groups. If we take selected age groups like 60s and 70s then it is noticed that after 60 years of surviving an average Indian has another 18.2 years of life expectancy and for age group of 70s, it is another 11.6 years. See, it is just a measurement based on mortality pattern considering the population censuses. As a sociologist, I am introspective to analyse Odisha.

 Life expectancy in Odisha is more or less same as the national average. A child born on April 7 2021 in Odisha is expected to live 69.3 years which was 45.7 years in 1970-75.  For rural Odisha life expectancy is 68.7 years and for urban Odisha it is 72.10 years.

As discussed in India’s perspective it is witnessed that females live longer.  Same is applicable to Odisha also. Life expectancy for male in Odisha is 68 years but for female it is 70.8 years. If we take two selected age groups of 60 and 70 in Odisha, it is projected that after surviving of 60 years an Odia is expected to live another 18.9 years and for age group of 70s the life expectancy will be another 12.8 years.

For selected age groups section, Odisha sees an upward trend compared to national average. Finally if a child survives its first one year from his birth in Odisha then the life expectancy increases to 71 years from 69.3 yrs.   These statistics are not so encouraging. Our life span suffers.

 There are various reasons for this. Toxic air, nutrition, public health services, hygienic condition and climate changes are the few strong reasons for many. As per the World’s state of global air-2020 report, India is on top rank as far as air pollution is concerned. 

We have 35 air polluted cities out of world’s 50 most air polluted cities. In future we may define health and disease in our way which suits our ecology, technology and demography rather than defining in a stereotype way. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory infections and lung cancers are new emerging and top rated diseases occuring in India for last 5 years.

These are the outcomes of air pollution. As per Global Nutrition report, India has not progressed in Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN). Every second child of 10 children born in India will be stunted and will be short in height as predefined by WHO.

According to the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences in its assessment of climate change over the Indian region, it is reported that temperatures in India could rise by 4.4 degrees Celsius by 2100. A child born in 2021 must be ready to adapt to the climate change.  Climate change will be the prime threat to India’s health, demography and economy.

We have been experiencing the pandemic since 2020. Second wave is devouring us. Does pandemic affect life expectancy? During the 1918 flu pandemic, life expectancy dropped by 11 years. From a current USA projection it is reported that due to pandemic deaths, life expectancy at birth for Americans will decrease by one year. Another research found that only a 1 or 2 percent rate of Covid infection could lead to a decline in life expectancy in countries where life expectancy average is high. Still there is no concrete research on India’s life expectancy and Covid 19.

Life expectancy is totally based on a healthy society. A healthy society must have healthy rural and urban environment, healthy agriculture and food, safe and clean environment, material security, adequate housing, a balanced and unpolluted clean water, appropriate education, affordable transportation, accessible public services and equality of opportunity.  Are we availing these?

 (Dr Parids is Assistant Professor in Sophitorium Group of Institutions, Khordha. Ph: 8456879522)