Explanation – ASHA workers, or Accredited Social Health Activists, act as intermediaries between the community and the health system, promoting access to healthcare, providing essential health services at the community level, and increasing awareness about health-related issues. They play a vital role in connecting communities with government health schemes, promoting maternal and child health, disease surveillance, and providing practical support for accessing public health services. ASHA worker must be a woman resident of the village married/ widowed/ divorced, preferably in the age group of 25 to 45 years. ASHA must be chosen through a systematic process by involving various community groups, self-help groups, the Block Nodal officer, District Nodal officer, the village Health Committee and the Gram Sabha.

Source: Forum IAS