Which of the following statement (s) is/are correct?

Statement 1: During colonial rule in India, water and air-borne diseases were rampant and took a huge toll on life.

Statement 2: The overall mortality rate during colonial times was moderate in India but the infant mortality rate was quite alarming.

Only Statement 1 is correct.

the correct answer is option 1: Only Statement 1 is correct.

Statement 1: This is true. During colonial rule in India, water and air-borne diseases were indeed rampant and had a significant impact on the population. The lack of adequate public health facilities, poor sanitation, and inadequate infrastructure contributed to the prevalence of these diseases, leading to high mortality rates.

Statement 2: This is false. The overall mortality rate in colonial India was high, not moderate, due to poor living conditions and inadequate healthcare. The infant mortality rate was indeed very high during this period, reflecting the poor health conditions and lack of effective healthcare services.

"Social development indicators during the British period were discouraging. The overall literacy level was less than 16 percent, with female literacy at an alarmingly low level of around seven percent. Public health facilities were largely inaccessible to a significant portion of the population or, if available, highly inadequate. As a result, water and air-borne diseases were widespread and had a significant impact on the loss of life. Consequently, the overall mortality rate was very high, with the infant mortality rate particularly alarming at about 218 deaths per thousand live births compared to the current rate of 33 per thousand. Life expectancy was also exceptionally low, at 32 years compared to the present average of 69 years."