An ASHA worker writes: At 100, I see an India beyond the rural-urban divide; a healthy India

Source: The post is based on an article “An ASHA worker writes: At 100, I see an India beyond the rural-urban divide; a healthy India” published in The Indian Express on 2^nd November 2022.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Social Justice

Relevance: concerns with health system in rural India

News: The article discusses the problem faced by health system in rural India and role of ASHA workers.

What are the health problems faced by rural areas in India?

Lack of Information: One of the biggest issues faced in rural health services is lack of information. People in rural areas do not have proper information related to health issues.

For example, people in rural area of Maharashtra opposed ASHA workers during quarantine of Covid positive patients.

Therefore, there is a need for robust channels of communication between the government and the rural population to send the information effectively. ASHA workers can play a crucial role in this effort.

Lack of resources: Rural health in India suffer from lack of proper resources and facilities.

For example, hospitals in rural areas are far and understaffed, road connectivity is not good for ambulances to arrive on time, proper testing facilities are also not available.

How ASHA workers play an important role in the health system of rural areas?

They are the lifelines in rural areas. They are first to be called at the time of medical emergency. This has made them to get the title of “Guardian of the Year” by Time magazine in 2020.

However, these accreditations are only short lived and there is a need to fix the issue at a larger scale.

What are the problems faced by ASHA workers and how can it be solved?

First, ASHA workers do not have fixed income. Therefore, they should get a fixed income to give them stability in job.

Second, ASHA workers are recognized as volunteers but their jobs should be formalized which would give them dignity and protection. This will also ensure that they are taken seriously by the state, the gram panchayat, and patients.