The government today said that steps are being taken to prevent pneumonia and Diarrhoea in the country. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of state for Health Sudip Bandyopadhyay admitted that these two diseases are the leading causes of death among children below five years in India. The Minister said, the measures being taken to control pneumonia and Diarrhoea include promotion of early and exclusive breastfeeding, Vitamin A supplementation programme and promoting use of zinc and ORS under the National Rural Health Mission. The Minister however denied that India topped the list of countries with the highest mortality rate to diarrhoea and pneumonia.