A cornerstone of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was the introduction of community health volunteers to bridge the gap between the community and the public health system, especially for maternal and child health services. These volunteers are known as:

Explanation

The Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) program was a key strategic intervention under NRHM. ASHAs are community health volunteers who act as a crucial link between the community and the public health system, facilitating access to health services, promoting health-seeking behaviors, and providing basic health information, particularly for maternal and child health. While AWWs, ANMs, and LHVs are also part of the health system, ASHAs were specifically introduced as a new cadre under NRHM.