ASHA worker’s vision for India@100

Context

This article depicts the views of an ASHA worker on how she envisions India on its completion of 100 years of Independence.

Who are ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers?

• ASHA workers are volunteers from within the community who are trained to provide information and aid people in accessing the benefits of various healthcare schemes of the government.
• They act as a bridge connecting marginalised communities with facilities such as primary health centres, sub-centres and district hospitals.
• The role of these community health volunteers under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was first established in 2005.

ASHA workers in the country

• There are around 10.4 lakh ASHA workers across the country.
  • The largest workforces of ASHA workers are in states with high populations – Uttar Pradesh (1.63 lakh), Bihar (89,437), and Madhya Pradesh (77,531).
  • Goa is the only state with no such workers.

Recognition

• ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers have received the Global Health Leaders Award-2022 in the backdrop of the 75th World Health Assembly.
• They were named a “Guardian of the Year” by Time magazine in 2020.