A woman in India dies delivering a baby every five minutes, leading to the country having a maternal mortality rate of 534 per 100,000 deaths - a fact reiterated by participants at a seminar here.

The two-day seminar by the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) and the Jharkhand government concluded Sunday with experts focussing on the extent of the problem and possible solutions for it.

Experts pointed out that in Singapore the maternal mortality rate was just five, as compared to rates of 800 - far higher than the national average of 534 - in the Indian states of Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Literacy clearly plays a big role. In Kerala, which boasts of 100 percent literacy, the maternal mortality rate is only 70.

Addressing the participants, FOGSI vice president Sanjay Gupta suggested: "The budgetary allocation in the health sector should be increased from 0.5 percent to 5 percent".

"If attendants are trained and have knowledge of drugs, maternal mortality could be reduced in states like Jharkhand and Bihar," said FOGSI president Alokendu Chatterji. In large swathes of these states, pregnant women are still dependednt on quacks and traditional midwives who have neither the know-how nor the equipment to deal with medical crises.

Said Jharkhand health secretary P.P. Sharma: "We will ensure that the attendants are properly trained in rural areas."