One of the key elements of the National Rural Health Mission is the Village Health , Sanitation and Nutrition committee (VHSNC). The committee has been formed to take collective actions on issues related to health and its social determinants at the village level. They are particularly envisaged as being central to ‘local level community action’ under NRHM, which would develop to support the process of Decentralised Health Planning. Thus the committee is envisaged to take leadership in providing a platform for improving health awareness and access of community for health services, address specific local needs and serve as a mechanism for community based planning and monitoring.

The committee is formed at the revenue village level and it should act as a sub-committee of the Gram Panchayat. It should have a minimum of 15 members which should comprise of elected member of the Panchayat who shall lead the committee, all those working for health and health related services should participate, community members/ beneficiaries and representation from all community sub-groups especially the vulnerable sections and hamlets/ habitations. ASHA residing in the village shall be the member secretary and convener of the committee.

Roles and Responsibilities 

• Create awareness about nutritional issues and significance of nutrition as an important determinant of health.
• Carry out survey on nutritional status and nutritional deficiencies in the village especially among women and children.
• Identify locally available food stuffs of high nutrient value as well as disseminate and promote best practices (traditional wisdom) congruent with local culture, capabilities and physical environment through a process of community consultation.
• Inclusion of Nutritional needs in the Village Health Plan – The committee will do an in-depth analysis of causes of malnutrition at the community and household levels, by involving the ANM, AWW, ASHA and ICDS Supervisors.
• Monitoring and Supervision of Village Health and Nutrition Day to ensure that it is organized every month in the village with the active participation of the whole village.
• Facilitate early detection of malnourished children in the community; tie up referral to the nearest Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) as well as follow up for sustained outcome.
• Supervise the functioning of Anganwadi Centre (AWC) in the village and facilitate its working in improving nutritional status of women and children.
• Act as a grievances redressal forum on health and nutrition issues.

The committee may, preferably, act as a sub-committee of Gram Panchayat and function under the overall supervision of Gram Panchayat. States are accordingly advised to issue the necessary notifications and guidelines on constitution of VHSNC to all concerned. States are also requested to consider notifying VHSNC as a subcommittee of Gram Panchayat.