Guwahati, Dec. 16: Assam’s future generation is in grave danger if the action plan for children brought out jointly by the state government and Unicef is taken into account.

The report — released by chief minister Tarun Gogoi at a function today — reveals that the state’s infant mortality rate is higher and immunisation coverage lower than the national average.

Termed the state plan of action for children, the report suggests new strategies to check the damaging trend. It put Assam’s infant mortality rate at 74 per 1,000 live births, a ratio much higher than the national average of 68:1,000. It states that 44 per cent of children in the state have not been immunised.

It was a classic case of one step forward and two steps backward in the educational front. The only positive trend — the gross enrolment in educational institutions is higher than the national average — has been marred by the gross dropout rate (from Class I to VIII). The dropout rate is 70 per cent, way above the national average of 52.

The chief minister said his government was committed to improving the status of children. “Environment plays a crucial role. The government schools have not been able to provide enough facilities for the children,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, the Calcutta-based representative of Unicef, Carrie Auer, said the suggestions should be backed by proper budgetary allocations.

The secretary of the department of women and child development, K.K. Hazarika, said the report would be a useful reference and monitoring document. A state-level committee, comprising the chief secretary as chairperson, will be formed to monitor the progress of the plan.