New Delhi   

Flexible rules likely for appointment of health workers

Aarti Dhar

Bid to check infant mortality rate

NEW DELHI: The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry is examining the possibility of relaxing rules to make appointment of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) -- the community health activists under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) -- more flexible.

This is being done primarily to extend the coverage of these health activists throughout the country, particularly in difficult areas, and also to overcome some practical problems being faced in the selection of ASHAs who will be the first port of call for any health-related demands of the people.

The Ministry also intends to increase the number of ASHAs from one per 1,000 population to one per 500 population in the under-served areas even in non-focus States. The increase in the number of ASHAs will be permitted in the hilly terrains, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes-dominated regions, and areas where caste and gender-biases are predominant factors.

An ASHA is a health activist in the community who will create awareness on health and its social determinants and mobilise the community towards local health planning and increased utilisation and accountability of the existing health services. She is an honorary volunteer who will receive incentives from various official departments under different schemes for her contribution in promoting good health practices.

The NRHM had envisaged one lakh ASHAs in each of the 10 high-focus States but the number will now go up substantially with several States demanding a larger number of ASHAs. The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry spends Rs. 550 for selection of each ASHA, Rs. 5,625 on her training and a drug kit worth Rs. 900. Rajasthan was to have 10,250 ASHAs but they have demanded 20,000 to cater to the sparsely populated vast desert. Similarly, the demand for more ASHAs has also come from several North-eastern States where the terrain is difficult. A larger number of community health workers would also be required in J&K once the programme is formally launched there.

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