Lok Sabha Question No. 4477 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-19
Subject: Anaemia in Women
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Kaushalendra Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4477 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH JULY, 2019

## ANAEMIA IN WOMEN

## 4477. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  according  to  a  recent  report,  around  68  per  cent  of  women  in  the  countr anaemic;
- (b) if so, the steps being taken to make the women aware of this;
- (c) the provision of facilities to be given by the ASHA workers to the women in the country especially of rural areas;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to increase the honorarium of the ASHA workers; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a): According to National Family Health Survey (NFHS) -IV (2015 - 16), the prevalence of anemia among women aged 15 to 49 years is 53.1 % .
- ( b) : Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has lunche d the Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy in April 2018 to address the issue of anaemia through life approach.

One  of  the  important  components  of  this  strategy  is  year - round  intensive  IEC/BCC campaign. This is a comprehensive communication strategy focusing on awareness generation through use of mass media, print media and IPC strategies.

- ( c) : The  provision  of  facilities  to  be  given  by  ASHA  workers  to  women  in  the  count especially in rural areas are as follows -
- An  ASHA  undertakes  steps  to  create awareness  and  provide  information  to  the community and women beneficiaries on determinants of health such as nutrition, ba sanitation and hygienic practices, healthy living and working conditions.
- She  counsels  women  and  families  on  birth  preparedness,  i mportance  of  safe  delivery, breastfeeding and complementary feeding, immunization, contraception and preventio of common infections including Reproductive Tract
- She  works  with  the  Village  Health,  Sanitation  and  Nutrition  Committee  to  develop comprehensi ve village health plan, and promote convergent action by the committee social determinants of health.
- She arranges escort/accompany pregnant women & children treatment/admission to the nearest pre -identified health facility.

requiring

- She promotes cons truction of household toilets under sanitation campaigns.
- ASHA is provided with a drug kit containing a set of drugs like Tab. Paracetamol , Iron Folic Acid (L), Zinc Tablets, ORS Packets etc. that enable her to provide basi care.

(d )& ( e) :

- W hile the ASHA is considered an 'honorary Volunteer' and paid via performance linked incentives,  there  have  been  serious  efforts  at  both  national  and  state  levels, increase in financial remuneration and non - monetary incentives to the ASHAs.
- Perfor mance based Incentives for ASHAs vary across the states based on local context.
- The  amount  of  routine  and  recurring  incentives  for  ASHAs  has  been  increased  fro Rs.1000/month to Rs. 2000/month
- Under ASHA benefit package, the supervisory visit incentive fo r ASHA facilitators has been increased from Rs. 250 per visit to Rs. 300 per visit.
- Certain states have also introduced fixed monthly honorarium for ASHAs from the st budget.
- Many States are also providing a range of non - monetary incentives.
- The provi sion of social security to ASHAs in the form of medical and life insurance also been provided in many states.