The National Rural Health Mission was launched in the year:

The correct answer is 2005.

Key Points

• The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)
  • It was launched on 12th April 2005, to provide accessible, affordable, and quality health care to the rural population, especially the vulnerable groups. Hence, Option 2 is correct.
  • NRHM seeks to provide equitable, affordable, and quality health care to the rural population, especially the vulnerable groups.
  • Under the NRHM, the Empowered Action Group (EAG) States as well as the North Eastern States, Jammu, and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh have been given special focus.
  • The thrust of the mission is on establishing a fully functional, community-owned, decentralized health delivery system with inter-sectoral convergence at all levels, to ensure simultaneous action on a wide range of determinants of health such as water, sanitation, education, nutrition, social and gender equality.
  • NRHM focuses on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Health, and Adolescent (RMNCH+A) Services.
  • The emphasis here is on strategies for improving maternal and child health through a continuum of care and the life cycle approach.
  • It recognises the inextricable linkages between adolescent health, family planning, maternal health and child survival. Moreover, the linking of community and facility-based care and strengthening referrals between various levels of the health care system to create a continuous care pathway is also to be focussed.