Question

As a part of which government programme, were ASHAs appointed?

• A. ICDS
• B. MDM
• C. NRHM
• D. NRLM

Hint:

Key Community Workers:
ASHA $\rightarrow$ Appointed under NRHM (Health focus).
Anganwadi Worker (AWW) $\rightarrow$ Appointed under ICDS (Nutrition & Early Education focus).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Improving maternal and child health in rural India requires grass-roots healthcare workers who can bridge the gap between rural communities and the public health system.
To address this need, the Government of India introduced a cadre of community-based health volunteers known as ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists).
ASHAs are selected from the local village, trained, and deployed to promote healthy behaviors, encourage institutional deliveries, and facilitate access to healthcare services.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
ASHAs were appointed as a core component of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) launched in 2005 (Option 3).
The NRHM was initiated to provide accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare to rural populations, particularly vulnerable groups like women and children.
Under the NRHM, every village is planned to have at least one trained female ASHA worker (approximately one ASHA per 1,000 population).
ASHAs play several key roles, including:
1. Serving as the primary point of contact for health-related demands in the village.
2. Accompanying pregnant women to healthcare centers for prenatal care and institutional deliveries under schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana.
3. Promoting immunization, sanitation, and nutrition within the community.
4. Providing basic medical care for minor ailments (such as diarrhea and fever) using a kit of essential medicines.
Let us review the other options:
ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) utilizes Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) to provide preschool education and supplementary nutrition, not ASHAs.
MDM (Mid-Day Meal) is a school feeding program managed by local schools and the Department of School Education.
NRLM (National Rural Livelihoods Mission) is a poverty alleviation program focused on self-help groups (SHGs) and financial inclusion, not public health delivery.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Thus, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) were appointed under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).