Functions of ASHAs in Health Care: A Study in Rural Areas of Phagwara Tehsil in Kapurthala District, Punjab

In 2005 Indian government along with NRHM(national rural health mission) launched  valuable health care to the whole rural population in the country. Main approach of this operation is to provide well trained female health activist well known as ASHA: Accredited Social Health Activist in every village i.e 1/1000 population, to fill the gap of uneven distribution of health services in rural area. An ASHA worker is always selected from the village itself. Every Asha worker is trained to work as a mediator between the community and the public health system. She is supposed to be trained to make people aware on their health issues and its determinants, organize the society towards local health planning, and increase operation of the existing health services. She is working towards catalyzing behavioral change in rural areas of the State. The present study is an attempt to observe the functioning of ASHA workers, and to evaluate the performance of ASHAs relating to key job functions. And also to understand their intensive related issues and their satisfaction. This study has been taken up in Phagwara Tehsil of Kapurthala District, Punjab with main focus on functioning of ASHAs in rural area. This study has been taken up in Kaputhala district of Punjab with main focus on identifying the functioning of ASHAs in rural areas. Phagwara Tehsil area has been selected and 56 ASHA workers from this area have been interviewed using a questionnaire designed for the purpose.