The infants were recruited at birth at the maternity ward of M.R. Bangur General Hospital where more than 6000 deliveries take place in a year. Located in Kolkata this hospital serves a district of West Bengal. Preliminary data collected by us from four hospitals in West Bengal showed that little over 37% of the babies born there have a birth weight of less than 2500 g. Taking conservative estimate of 35% of babies born to be of LBW (< 2500 g), more than 2000 LBW babies are expected to be born at this hospital in a year. LBW infants born at this hospital was recruited in this study and followed up at home. Mainly the urban and peri-urban poor use these Government hospitals. The hospital services are rendered free of charge by the Government.