With reference to the National Rural Health Mission, which of the following are the jobs of ‘ASHA’, a trained community health worker?
- 1.Accompanying women to the health facility for antenatal care checkup.
- 2.Using pregnancy test kits for early detection of pregnancy.
- 3.Providing information on nutrition and immunisation.
- 4.Conducting the delivery of a baby.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
Under NRHM, an ASHA is a community health activist. She escorts women to health facilities, counsels them on nutrition and immunisation, and uses the Nischay pregnancy test card. She is not a birth attendant, so conducting deliveries is not her job. That leaves 1, 2 and 3.
- ✓ 1. The NHM guidelines on ASHA say she will escort or accompany pregnant women and children who need treatment or admission to the nearest health facility (PHC/CHC/FRU). Linking pregnant women to facility care, including antenatal check-ups, is part of this role.
- ✓ 2. ASHA Module 6 trains her to use the Nischay home pregnancy test card. It notes the card can be used easily by her to test whether a woman is pregnant.
- ✓ 3. The ASHA's role includes giving the community information on determinants of health such as nutrition. She also counsels women on safe delivery, breastfeeding, complementary feeding and immunisation.
- ✗ 4. ASHA's role is to counsel the mother to deliver at a PHC open 24x7, where doctors and nurses or ANMs conduct the delivery. She does not conduct it herself.
- ✗ (d) This option includes statement 4, which is wrong. ASHA is a facilitator and link worker, not a skilled birth attendant.
Remember · ASHA is the village-level link between community and health system: she escorts, counsels, mobilises and provides basic first-contact care. She does not conduct deliveries; ANMs, nurses and doctors do.
Sources
- NHM – Guidelines on Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) ↗ “She will arrange escort/accompany pregnant women & children requiring treatment/ admission to the nearest pre-identified health facility i.e. Primary Health Centre/ Community Health Centre/ First Referral Unit (PHC/CHC /FRU). … She will counsel women on birth preparedness, importance of safe delivery, breast- feeding and complementary feeding, immunization, contraception and prevention of common infections”
- NHM – ASHA Module 6: Skills that Save Lives (Maternal and Newborn Health) ↗ “Pregnancy testing: through use of the Nischay home pregnancy test card The Nischay test card can be used easily by you to test if a woman is pregnant. … Counsel the mother to go to the PHC which is open 24 X 7, where there is a team of doctors and nurses or ANMs to conduct the delivery”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2012, General Studies Paper I. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·
