ASHA Workers in India | 17 Mar 2025
Why in News?
Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in Kerala staged protests demanding higher wages and retirement benefits.
Who are ASHA Workers?
- About: ASHAs are community health volunteers introduced under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), 2005 to provide essential healthcare services in rural areas.
- In 2013, the NRHM merged with the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) to form the National Health Mission (NHM).
- ASHAs work alongside Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) to improve healthcare accessibility.
- An ASHA is a local woman (age 25-45 years), preferably married, widowed, or divorced, with at least Class 10 education. NHM considers them volunteers, limiting their earnings to task-based incentives.
- ASHAs serve one per 1,000 people, with 9.2 lakh in rural and 79,900 in urban areas (2022-23).
- Key Responsibilities of ASHAs: Ensure antenatal check-ups, and postnatal care, while educating mothers on breastfeeding and infant nutrition.
- ASHAs support immunization, tuberculosis (TB) treatment, malaria screenings, and disease prevention. Additionally, they provide basic healthcare, essential medicines, first aid, and report births and deaths.
- Concerns of ASHA Workers: ASHAs face low ( approx Rs 5000-15000) and irregular payments, receiving only a nominal honorarium and task-based incentives that vary by state and are often delayed due to funding issues and Centre-State disputes.
- Despite their crucial role during Covid-19, earning them the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) World Health Leaders Award in 2022, their struggles persist.
- They are not classified as government employees, denying them fixed wages, pensions, gratuity, provident funds, and medical insurance, though some states, like Andhra Pradesh, offer gratuity.
- The 2020 Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour recommended formalizing their roles, but no action was taken.
- ASHAs, mostly women from marginalized backgrounds, also face gender-based discrimination in the workforce.
- Despite their crucial role during Covid-19, earning them the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) World Health Leaders Award in 2022, their struggles persist.
How Can ASHA Workers Be Empowered?
- Formalization: Recognizing ASHAs as government employees or at least contractual workers with job benefits under the Code on Social Security, 2020 would ensure they receive essential labor rights and protections.
- Skill Development: Offer training programs for ASHAs to upgrade their skills and transition into higher healthcare roles (e.g., Auxiliary Nurse and Midwives).
- Financial Security: With rising inflation, ASHA workers need financial security. A fixed salary alongside incentives ensures stability, while Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) prevent payment delays, empowering them to focus on healthcare without financial distress.
National Health Mission (NHM)
- NHM aims to ensure universal access to quality, affordable, and equitable healthcare services while advancing toward Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
- NHM, extended till 2026 and implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, supports States/UTs in providing accessible and affordable healthcare, focusing on rural infrastructure, workforce, and service delivery.
Read more: ASHA Workers & Related Challenges |
Drishti Mains Question: Discuss how ASHA workers contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 in India. |
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Q. With reference to the National Rural Health Mission, which of the following are the jobs of ‘ASHA’, a trained community health worker? (2012)
- Accompanying women to the health facility for antenatal care checkup
- Using pregnancy test kits for early detection of pregnancy
- Providing information on nutrition and immunization.
- Conducting the delivery of baby
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans: (a)