Afro Asian Journal of Anthropology and Social Policy
Year : 2016, Volume : 7, Issue : 2
First page : ( 12) Last page : ( 22)
Online ISSN : 2229-4414.

An evaluation of national rural health mission (NRHM) in India

Dr. Pavithra R.H.

Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Karnataka, State Open University-Mukthagangothri, Mysore

Online published on 21 June, 2017.

Abstract

National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has been envisaged as a focal point of all the programs targeted to improve the health of people in rural India. It has been widely debated both, before and after the implementation. Ongoing corrective measures and performance appraisal are integrated with this program. Deliberations by experts from various fields, adaptation of the successful best practices, and learning from the failures make NRHM a different program. No government program was as meticulously prepared or planned as NRHM since Independence. The key functionary of this program, Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), a voluntary worker, incorporates all the good qualities of previous similar functionaries in various programs. The active involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions (These Panchayati Raj Instittutions or PRIs, as they are known here, are the institutions for local self government where locally elected representatives make decision for the people in the area. National Rural Health Mission is strategic framework to implement the National Health Policy 2002. The scheme of Accredited Social Health Activist is an improvement over the earlier Community Health Guide Scheme. Integration of various health and family welfare programmes will result in economy and allocation of resources as per needs of the districts. Decentralised planning with the involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions is likely to make health as people's programme. Converging water supply, sanitation, hygiene and nutrition with health planning is a logical step. The proposal to strenthen institutions of primary health care and Community Health Centres as functional Rural Hospitals alongwith introduction of Indian Public Health Standards and accountability of public health institutions to the public is likely to revolutionise the status of health care in rural India.

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