Admitting that the minority-dominated areas still remain the dark spots of the polio immunization programme, he said: 'Renewed efforts would be made to make people aware about how important it was for them to ensure a polio-free child.'

According to official records, 69 polio cases were reported in Uttar Pradesh in 2005. This figure shot up to 305 in 2008.

Refusal to take the oral vaccines, poor health and sanitary conditions as well as lack of basic hygiene were stated to be the key reasons behind the unabated rise in the incidence of polio in the state.