Q.What is National Rural Health Mission ?

The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), launched in 2005, aims to provide affordable, accessible and quality healthcare to rural India, strengthen rural health infrastructure, and cut infant and maternal mortality.

Meaning. The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched by the Government of India in April 2005. It is a major initiative to improve the social infrastructure of rural areas by ensuring healthcare reaches the rural population, particularly the poor and vulnerable.

Main objectives / features:

1. Provide accessible, affordable and quality healthcare to rural people, especially women and children.
2. Strengthen rural health infrastructure — Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and sub-centres.
3. Introduce ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) as community-level health workers.
4. Reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and control communicable and non-communicable diseases. …