Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)

ASHA is a trained female community health worker in India, playing a key role in promoting healthcare, sanitation, and maternal health.

Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)

Accredited Social Health Activist Latest News

ASHA workers have been on an indefinite stir in front of the Kerala government secretariat over the last several days demanding an increase of their monthly remuneration to Rs 21,000, retirement benefit of Rs 5 lakh and other basic benefits.

About Accredited Social Health Activist 

  • ASHA is a trained female community health activist.
  • The ASHA program was conceived and funded by the Indian National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) in an effort to promote public health awareness amongst local, rural populations, and increase the utilization and accountability of existing health services.
  • Selected from the community itself and accountable to it, the ASHA will be trained to work as an interface between the community and the public health system.
  • The ASHA scheme is presently in place in all States/UTs (except Goa).
  • The states are mandated to employ at least one ASHA worker per every 1000 people.
  • They receive basic public health training and are equipped with a standard drug kit, which allows them to deliver first-contact healthcare. 
  • They are chosen through a rigorous process of selection involving various community groups, self-help groups, Anganwadi Institutions, Block Nodal officer, District Nodal officer, the village Health Committee, and the Gram Sabha.

Accredited Social Health Activist Functions

  • Act as a care provider at the community level.
  • Facilitating access to healthcare, medicine, and sanitation services.
  • Raising the level of awareness of health issues among the marginalised sections within the community.
  • Advocate for female health and hygiene standards.
  • Advocate for a health-conscious behaviour and approach to livelihood.

Accredited Social Health Activist Selection Criteria

  • In rural areas, ASHA must primarily be a woman resident of the village married/widowed/divorced, preferably in the age group of 25 to 45 years and literate, preferably qualified up to 10th standard (formal education up to Class 8).
  • In urban areas, ASHA must be a woman resident of the “slum/vulnerable clusters” and belong to that particular vulnerable group which have been identified by the City/District Health Society for selection of ASHA and must have good communication and leadership skills.
  • The States have been given the flexibility to relax the population norms as well as the educational qualifications on a case-to-case basis, depending on the local conditions as far as her recruitment is concerned.

Accredited Social Health Activist Compensation 

  • An ASHA worker is primarily an “honorary volunteer” but is compensated for her time in specific situations (such as training attendance, monthly reviews, and other meetings).
  • On average, an ASHA worker’s monthly income varies from Rs 2,000 per month to Rs 7,000 per month, depending on the state.
  • In addition, she is eligible for incentives offered under various national health programmes. 
  • She would also have income from the social marketing of certain healthcare products like condoms, contraceptive pills, sanitary napkins, etc. 
  • Her work should be so designed that it is done without impinging on her main livelihood and adequate monetary compensation for the time she spends on these tasks- through performance based payments should be provided.

Accredited Social Health Activist FAQs

Q1. When was ASHA launched in India?

Ans. ASHA Programme was launched in 2005-06 at grass root level under the umbrella of all health Programme of National Health Mission, a central Government Scheme.

Q2. What are the activities of ASHA?

Ans. An ASHA is a facilitator, that is, she helps the village community to access health services provided by the government.

Q3. How many ASHAs are there in India?

Ans. The country currently has 9.83 Lakh ASHAs in position against the target of 10.35 Lakh.

Source: DH

Latest UPSC Exam 2025 Updates

Last updated on June, 2025

UPSC Notification 2025 was released on 22nd January 2025.

UPSC Prelims Result 2025 is out now for the CSE held on 25 May 2025.

UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 and Unofficial Prelims Answer Key 2025  are available now.

UPSC Calendar 2026 is released on 15th May, 2025.

→ The UPSC Vacancy 2025 were released 1129, out of which 979 were for UPSC CSE and remaining 150 are for UPSC IFoS.

UPSC Mains 2025 will be conducted on 22nd August 2025.

UPSC Prelims 2026 will be conducted on 24th May, 2026 & UPSC Mains 2026 will be conducted on 21st August 2026.

→ The UPSC Selection Process is of 3 stages-Prelims, Mains and Interview.

UPSC Result 2024 is released with latest UPSC Marksheet 2024. Check Now!

UPSC Toppers List 2024 is released now. Shakti Dubey is UPSC AIR 1 2024 Topper.

→ Also check Best IAS Coaching in Delhi

Vajiram Editor
Vajiram Editor
UPSC GS Course 2026
UPSC GS Course 2026
₹1,75,000
Enroll Now
GS Foundation Course 2 Yrs
GS Foundation Course 2 Yrs
₹2,45,000
Enroll Now
UPSC Prelims Test Series
UPSC Prelims Test Series
₹6000
Enroll Now
UPSC Mains Test Series
UPSC Mains Test Series
₹16000
Enroll Now
UPSC Mentorship Program
UPSC Mentorship Program
₹85000
Enroll Now
Enquire Now