Which of the following health committees recommended creating a band of para-professionals and semi-professional health workers from within the community?

1. A

   Chadha Committee

2. B

   Shrivatsav committee

3. C

   Bhore Committee

4. D

   Mudaliar Committee

Appeared in: DSSSB 14 August 2024

Explanation

• The Shrivastav Committee, also known as the 'Group on Medical Education and Support Manpower' (1975), explicitly recommended creating a band of para-professional and semi-professional health workers.
• The core idea was to train individuals from within the community itself to deliver basic, accessible health services, thereby empowering the community.
• This recommendation was a foundational step that led to the launch of the Rural Health Scheme in 1977 and the creation of roles like Village Health Guides (VHGs).
• The committee aimed to bridge the significant gap in healthcare delivery, especially in rural areas, by creating a link between the community and the formal health system.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: The Chadha Committee's (1963) primary focus was on the National Malaria Eradication Programme. It recommended a single-purpose 'Basic Health Worker' for malaria vigilance and family planning, not a broad cadre of community-based para-professionals for comprehensive health services.
• Option C: The Bhore Committee (1946), or the Health Survey and Development Committee, laid the blueprint for India's public health system by introducing the concept of Primary Health Centres (PHCs). Its focus was on creating a structured, integrated health service, not on creating a cadre of workers from the community.
• Option D: The Mudaliar Committee (1962), or the Health Survey and Planning Committee, reviewed the progress after the Bhore Committee. Its main recommendation was to strengthen the existing infrastructure, particularly district hospitals, to act as effective referral centers, rather than creating a new level of community workers.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Health Committees in India and their key recommendations for public health infrastructure as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
• The Shrivastav Committee's recommendation is the philosophical and practical origin of India's community health worker program, most notably the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs).
• Nurses working in Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) collaborate daily with ASHAs for tasks like immunization drives, antenatal care check-ups, health education, and disease surveillance.
• Understanding this history helps nurses appreciate the vital role of community health workers as the first point of contact for healthcare in many rural and underserved areas.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the core concept of the question, which is about a specific recommendation from an Indian health committee.
• The keywords are 'para-professionals,' 'semi-professional health workers,' and 'from within the community.' This points to a focus on grassroots-level manpower.
• Mentally review the primary focus of each committee listed in the options.
• Recall that the Bhore Committee established PHCs and the Mudaliar Committee focused on strengthening hospitals.
• Remember the Chadha Committee is linked to malaria and family planning workers.
• This leaves the Shrivastav Committee, which is known for its focus on creating a new cadre of community-based health workers to support the formal system, matching the question's keywords perfectly.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Health Committees in India and their key recommendations for public health infrastructure.
• Stem keywords: health committees, para-professionals, semi-professional health workers, community
• Lead-in keywords: Which
• Clinical cues: The care setting changes urgency, monitoring level, and the expected nursing action.
• Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QWtNoZ_ruVopIs6_PsIXv-

Copy ID

Reference Book

E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health NursingShyamala D part 1 (pp 26-389 of 389) pp. 70-72, 49-51, 71-73