{"id":102337,"date":"2026-05-07T16:19:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T10:49:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=102337"},"modified":"2026-05-07T16:19:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T10:49:21","slug":"national-rural-health-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/national-rural-health-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"National Rural Health Mission, Objectives, Key Features, Achievements"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The National Rural Health Mission is a government programme launched to improve healthcare services in rural areas of India. It focuses on providing affordable and accessible medical care to people living in villages, especially the poor and vulnerable. The mission aims to strengthen rural health facilities, increase awareness about health and hygiene, and ensure better care for mothers and children. Overall, it works to improve the quality of life by making basic healthcare services available to everyone in rural communities.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>About National Rural Health Mission<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched on <\/span><b>12th April 2005<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by the Prime Minister to provide <\/span><b>affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to people living in rural areas, especially the poor and vulnerable sections of society.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Later, on <\/span><b>1st May 2013,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the government introduced the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/national-urban-health-mission\/\" target=\"_blank\">National Urban Health Mission<\/a><\/strong> as a sub-mission under the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/national-health-mission\/\" target=\"_blank\">National Health Mission<\/a><\/strong>, where NRHM became the rural component of this larger mission.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main aim of NRHM is to ensure that people in villages get <\/span><b>equal and quality healthcare services<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> without facing financial burden, and special attention is given to <\/span><b>Empowered Action Group (EAG) states, North-Eastern states, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> where health services are weaker.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The mission focuses on building a <\/span><b>strong, community-based and decentralized healthcare system,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> where local communities take part in managing health services, and different sectors like <\/span><b>water, sanitation, education, nutrition, and gender equality work<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> together to improve overall health.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also aims to improve the performance of healthcare facilities by following <\/span><b>Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and ensuring better outcomes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>National Rural Health Mission Key Achievements<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than <\/span><b>12 lakh additional healthcare workers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were engaged between <\/span><b>FY 2021-24 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to strengthen health services.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Around <\/span><b>220 crore <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/covid-19\/\" target=\"_blank\">COVID-19<\/a> vaccine doses<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were successfully administered across the country.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) declined by 83% since 1990,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which is higher than the global decline of 45%.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Under-5 Mortality Rate reduced by 75%,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> better than the global reduction of 60%.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tuberculosis (TB) cases reduced from 237 per 1 lakh (2015) to 195 (2023),<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the death rate declined from 28 to 22.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Over 1.56 lakh Ni-kshay Mitra volunteers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are helping around 9.4 lakh TB patients under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Around <\/span><b>1.72 lakh <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/aam\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ayushman Arogya Mandir<\/a> Centres<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are functional by FY 2023-24.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> screened more than 2.61 crore people.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>India achieved 97.98% coverage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant progress has been made in <\/span><b>malaria control and Kala-azar elimination.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>U-WIN digital platform<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was launched to track vaccination.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme benefited over <\/span><b>4.53 lakh patients in FY 2023-24.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>National Rural Health Mission Objectives<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To reduce <\/span><b>Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/maternal-mortality-ratio\/\" target=\"_blank\">Maternal Mortality Ratio<\/a> (MMR)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in rural areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To achieve<\/span><b> population stabilization and improve reproductive health.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To prevent and control both <\/span><b>communicable and non-communicable diseases.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To <\/span><b>promote traditional systems like AYUSH<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) for a healthy lifestyle.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>National Rural Health Mission Key Initiatives and Components<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than <\/span><b>8.84 lakh ASHA workers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> act as a bridge between rural communities and the healthcare system. They are often the <\/span><b>first contact point, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">especially for women and children, helping people access medical services and increasing the use of public health facilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rogi Kalyan Samiti (Hospital Management Society):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These are registered groups that manage hospital activities and ensure better patient care and financial management at the local level through a common fund.s<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Untied Grants to Sub-Centres:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These grants help ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwives) by providing essential equipment like BP machines, stethoscopes, and weighing machines, enabling better maternal and primary healthcare services.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committee (VHSNC): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Works at the grassroots level to improve health awareness, sanitation, and nutrition in villages and empowers local communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Healthcare Service Delivery Strengthening:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> NRHM has addressed the shortage of health staff by providing around 1.7 lakh human resources, including doctors, specialists, nurses, and ANMs on a contractual basis.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mobile Medical Units (MMUs):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Around 2024 mobile units are working in 459 districts, bringing healthcare services to remote and unserved areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Emergency Transport Services:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Free ambulance services are available across rural areas through a toll-free number, ensuring quick medical help within about 30 minutes, supported by over 12,000 vehicles.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This scheme provides completely free services for pregnant women and sick newborns in government hospitals, including transport, medicines, diagnostics, blood, and diet, promoting safe deliveries and child health.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>National Rural Health Mission Significance<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improves access to healthcare in rural areas by providing essential services closer to villages, especially in remote and underserved regions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduces financial burden on poor families by offering free or low-cost treatment and medicines through public health facilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengthens rural healthcare infrastructure by upgrading health centres and increasing availability of doctors, nurses, and medical staff.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Helps reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) by improving maternal and child healthcare services.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promotes community participation through ASHA workers and local committees, making healthcare more effective and people-focused.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Controls diseases and spreads awareness about hygiene, nutrition, and healthy lifestyles, improving overall rural health conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>National Rural Health Mission improves rural healthcare through ASHA workers, free treatment, maternal care, disease control and stronger health services care<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":102208,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[5248,5249,7402],"class_list":{"0":"post-102337","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-indian-society","9":"tag-indian-society-notes","10":"tag-national-rural-health-mission","11":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102337","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102337"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102337\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":102362,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102337\/revisions\/102362"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/102208"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102337"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102337"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102337"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}