1 week ago

Grassroots Workers Expand Rural Healthcare, Finance and Livelihoods

India has a large group of trained workers helping people in villages.

ASHAs support healthcare, while Anganwadi workers help young children and families.

Other community workers assist with farming, livestock, fishing, banking, insurance and sanitation.

Many of these workers are women connected to local Self-Help Groups.

The DAY-NRLM programme has brought more than 10 crore rural households into about 92 lakh Self-Help Groups.

Bank Sakhis help villagers open accounts, deposit money, withdraw cash and access loans.

Bank Sakhis have helped Self-Help Groups receive large amounts of bank credit.

The government is also training more people to help villagers start businesses.

Key facts

ASHAs: More than 10.40 lakh accredited social health activists are supporting community healthcare.
Anganwadi workers: More than 10.58 lakh trained workers are supporting early childhood services.
Community Resource Persons: Over 9 lakh CRPs are active in agriculture, banking, insurance and other specialised areas.
Self-Help Groups: DAY-NRLM has mobilised more than 10 crore rural households into around 92 lakh SHGs.
SVEP enterprises: The Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme had supported 4.32 lakh enterprises as of June 2026.
Financial intermediaries: Over 1.48 lakh BC Sakhis provide digital, doorstep financial services, while 50,548 Bank Sakhis facilitate credit linkage.
SHG bank credit: Bank Sakhis have helped SHGs access Rs 13.41 lakh crore in bank credit since 2013-14.

thehansindia.com · 1 week ago