AN ASSESSMENT OF INCENTIVE RELATED SATISFACTION AMONG ACCREDITED SOCIAL HEALTH ACTIVISTS (ASHA) AND ITS CORRELATION WITH EDUCATION QUALIFICATION IN MAHARASHTRA

National Rural Health Mission was launched in April 2005 by GOI. Mission, seeks to provide effective healthcare to rural population, especially the vulnerable sections of the society. One of the core strategies proposed in this mission was to create a village level social activist, designated as ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) for every village and she is expected to create awareness on health and its determinants, mobilize the community towards local health planning and increase utilization of the existing health services. The present study has been conducted to know the educational qualification; average incentive per month; level of satisfaction about incentive; understand correlation among satisfaction about incentive and their qualification. Descriptive research design is used for the study. Primary data for the study is collected from the 280 sample from Nandurbar and Sangli districts. The present paper argues that the educational qualification of ASHAs of the study area is majority of (59.6%) ASHAs have completed their education up to secondary school and (0.4%) found illiterate among the selected sample. Majority of ASHAs (76.1%) getting incentive in the rage of Rs. 1001 to Rs. 3000/- per month and (1.1%) ASHAs are getting incentive more than Rs. 5000/-. Majority (84.3%) ASHAs are not satisfied with the incentive they are getting per month for various jobs they have done. Whereas (15.7%) ASHAs are satisfied about incentives they are getting. In case of reason of dissatisfaction among ASHAs about the incentive they are getting per month for performing various jobs. Majority of (91.1%) are giving reason for dissatisfaction is payment is quite less. Pertaining to satisfaction level according to their qualification. Maximum ASAHs are satisfied among the Secondary school is 11% and total satisfaction among all levels of education is 15.7%. Whereas, maximum 48.6% dissatisfaction is also in the qualification of secondary school is noticed and total dissatisfaction among all levels of education is 84.3%.