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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on April 17, 2025
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Why are ASHA workers protesting in Kerala?
For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international Significance
For Mains Examination: GS II - Governance
Context:
For over two months now, a section of Kerala’s 26,125-strong community of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) have been on a day-night agitation on the streets demanding better remuneration and retirement benefits. While the agitation gained much attention and was also raised in Parliament, the issues raised by the ASHAs remain unresolved.
Read about:
Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs)
National Rural Health Mission
Key takeaways:
Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)
An Accredited Social Health Activist, or ASHA, is a trained female health worker from the local community who serves as a key link between the rural population and the public healthcare system.- The initiative was launched under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) by the Government of India, aiming to raise health awareness in rural areas and improve the reach and accountability of government health services.
- ASHAs are selected from within the communities they serve and are responsible to those very communities. They are trained to bridge the gap between people and the healthcare infrastructure, guiding them to utilize available health services effectively. The ASHA program has been implemented across all Indian States and Union Territories, except Goa.
- States are expected to appoint at least one ASHA per 1,000 individuals. These workers receive foundational training in public health and are provided with a basic drug kit, enabling them to offer primary healthcare at the grassroots level.
- Their selection is conducted through a comprehensive process involving community groups, self-help groups, Anganwadi centers, block and district health officials, the village health committee, and the Gram Sabha.
ASHAs serve as frontline caregivers in their communities. They facilitate access to health services, medicines, and sanitation facilities, especially for marginalized groups. Their responsibilities also include raising health awareness, promoting hygienic practices, advocating for women's health, and encouraging healthier lifestyle choices and disease prevention behaviors.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
In rural settings, an ASHA must be a woman residing in the same village, preferably married, widowed, or divorced, and ideally between 25 to 45 years old. She should have at least a basic level of literacy, preferably up to the 10th standard, though completion of 8th grade is generally acceptable.
In urban areas, ASHAs are chosen from within slum communities or other identified vulnerable areas. They must belong to these communities and demonstrate strong c