ASHA Benefit Package gets cabinet nod

The existing institutional mechanisms for the National Health Mission would be utilized to implement the proposed ASHA Benefit package.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to ASHA Benefit Package w.e.f. October 2018 (to be paid in November 2018) with two components as under: -

• ASHAs and ASHA facilitators meeting the eligibility criteria to be enrolled in social security schemes implemented by Government of India namely, the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha BimaYojana.
• An increase in the amount of routine and recurring incentives under National Health Mission for ASHAs under NHM from Rs. 1000/- per month to Rs. 2000/-per month.

The package entails an expenditure (Central funding) to Rs.1224.97 crore for two years 2018-19 and 2019-20.

No of beneficiaries:

• Estimated 1,06,36,701(One crore six lakh thirty-six thousand seven hundred one) ASHAS and ASHA facilitators to be covered under Pradhan MantriJeevanJyotiBimaYojana.
• Estimated 9,57,303 (Nine lakh fifty-seven thousand three hundred three) ASHAS and ASHA facilitators to be covered under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha BimaYojana.
• Estimated 10,22,265 (Ten lakh twenty-two thousand two hundred sixty-five) ASHAs will get at least minimum of Rs 2000/- per month from current Rs1000/- for routine activities.

Implementation Strategy and Targets:

The existing institutional mechanisms for the National Health Mission would be utilized to implement the proposed ASHA Benefit package.

(With inputs from PIB)