With reference to National Rural Health Mission, which of the following are the jobs of Asha, a trained community health worker? 1) Accompanying women to the health facility for antenatal care checkups 2) Using pregnancy test kits for early detection of pregnancy 3) Providing information on nutrition and immunization 4) Conducting the delivery of baby Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

The correct answer is C (1 and 3 only). ASHA is a community-level link worker under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM, launched 2005, now NHM). Her role is to mobilise people, connect them to services and give health education. She is not a clinical provider.

• Statement 1 is correct. ASHA accompanies pregnant women to the facility for antenatal check-ups and for institutional delivery.
• Statement 2 is not treated as her job. Pregnancy testing is a clinical and diagnostic activity handled by ANM or facility staff. ASHA refers suspected pregnancies onward. The 2012 key treats this as outside her role, though some guideline wording on kit distribution has caused confusion, so read it carefully.
• Statement 3 is correct. ASHA gives counselling on nutrition, immunisation, breastfeeding and hygiene.
• Statement 4 is wrong. Conducting deliveries is the job of a trained birth attendant, ANM, nurse or doctor. ASHA only escorts the woman and helps with birth preparedness.

Core concept: the ASHA as a Community Health Volunteer at the last-mile interface, and the NRHM's focus on institutional deliveries and reducing maternal and infant mortality. This links to Mains GS-2 questions on health delivery and the role of frontline workers.

Trap: candidates pick option D because ASHA's work sounds broad. The test is to separate facilitation and counselling from clinical procedures.