India’s National Rural Health Mission (NRHM): Examining the Scope and Impact

Background: The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), initiated in 2005, seeks to enhance access to healthcare and improve health outcomes for rural communities in India, explicitly emphasising maternal and child health. Objective: This article assesses the National Rural Health Mission‘s effects on child development, focusing on significant initiatives like promoting institutional births, immunization efforts, and community involvement through Accredited Social Health Activists(ASHAs). Method: By examining various studies and reports, this research highlights its objectives, functioning, major schemes and notable advancements in child health metrics, including declines in infant mortality rates (IMR) and rises in vaccination coverage. Nonetheless, issues such as insufficient infrastructure and high out-of-pocket costs persist. Results: The results indicate the need for integrating child health initiatives within more extensive public health strategies to guarantee sustained development and better health outcomes for children in rural regions. National Rural Health Mission is one of the significant health related initiatives of Govt. of India. The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) is a strategic initiative aimed at improving the health outcomes of rural communities through a comprehensive and inclusive approach. The mission’s core objectives focus on reducing maternal morbidity and child mortality, ensuring equitable access to affordable healthcare services, and strengthening primary healthcare systems to make medical care universally accessible. It also prioritizes the prevention and management of both communicable and non-communicable diseases through integrated healthcare delivery. Additionally, the NRHM emphasizes stabilizing population growth while addressing critical areas such as maternal and child health, adolescent health, and family planning, thereby fostering holistic and sustainable health development in rural areas.