Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
2. Empowering ASHA workers by giving the dignity and protection they deserve, along with enabling them to assume a more empowered role in aiding people’s medical needs will make them more effective. Examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
One of the biggest issues facing rural health services is lack of information. Channels of communication between the government and the rural population need to be robust. A deadly pandemic makes the value of these channels obvious — but in order to get people on board, information needs to be sent out much more effectively and in a hands-on manner. ASHA workers play a crucial role in aiding this effort.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the importance of ASHA for grassroot level development.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by writing about ASHA workers as part of National Rural Health Mission.
Body:
First, write about the major roles played the ASHA workers – The ASHA programme is considered as being vital to achieving the goal of increasing community engagement with the health system, improving the health status of the community through securing people’s access to health care services. Mention the work done by the ASHA workers in the Pandemic.
Next, write certain limitations with respect to the ASHA programme and suggest measures to empower the ASHA workers further.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
