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In the first year when it was launched, there was no separate budget head for NRHM in the year of 2005-06. But was allocated separate funds for the next fiscal year. The government has ear-marked an outlay of Rs. 8,207 Crores for 2006-07 in comparison to Rs. 6,553 Crores in
the previous year. The budget for 2007-08 is likely to be increased to Rs. 10,500 Crores.

The Mission adopts a synergistic approach on establishing a fully-functional, community-owned, de-centralized health delivery system with inter-sectoral convergence at all levels, to ensure simultaneous action on a wide range of determinants of health like water, sanitation, education, nutrition, social and gender equality. Institutional integration within the fragmented health sector was expected to provide a focus on outcomes, measured against Indian Public Health Standards for all health facilities. From narrowly-defined schemes, the NRHM was shifting the focus to a functional health system at all levels, from the village to the district.

NRHM has successfully provided a platform for community health action at all levels. Besides merger of Departments of Health & Family Welfare in all States, NRHM has successfully moved towards a single State and District level Health Society for effective integration and convergence. Through a concerted effort at de-centralized planning through preparation of District Health Action Plans, NRHM has managed to bring about intra-health sector and inter-sectoral convergence for effectiveness and efficiency.

In all the states, specific health needs of people have been articulated for local action. With the establishment of public institutions like the Village Health & Sanitation Committees (VH&SCs), Hospital Development Committees and PRI-led Committees; it is the civil society to which the health system is being made increasingly accountable. Through untied and flexible financing, NRHM is trying to drive reforms that empower local communities to make their own decisions. It is, thus, a serious effort at putting people's health in people's hands. The Goal of the Mission is to improve the availability of and access to quality healthcare by people, especially for those residing in rural areas, the poor, women and children.

The mission proposes a village health plan, to be drawn up by members of the community in partnership with the Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) and Anganwadi Worker. It also makes provision for employing nearly 300,000 rural women health workers who will provide frontline healthcare to the community. These health workers will not only offer simple remedies such as the oral dehydration mix but will also motivate families to adopt clean drinking water practices, sanitation and safe pregnancy and delivery.

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Dr. Gursharan Singh Kainth started his career as Lecturer at Post Graduate Dept. of Economics, Government College, Gurdaspur, and later at Khalsa College; Amritsar, specializes in Quantitative & Development Economics. Has the distinction of serving Punjab Agricultural Univ, Ludhiana, for more than 2 decades and remained Director-Principal of Saint Soldier Management & Technical Institute, Jalandhar. Currently, heading GAD Institute of Development Studies, Amritsar, a self-financed research institute. Has been honoured with various awards, including Guru Draunacharya Samman, Vijay Rattan Award, etc.
Article posted on December 14, 2008.