Experiences of frontline workers in Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh during the Covid-19 pandemic

In the advent of COVID-19, frontline workers (FLWs) such as Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) found themselves at the forefront of combating the pandemic. In addition to regular healthcare and nutrition delivery, their revised responsibilities included screening for COVID-19, contact tracing, communication of preventative measures, adapting nutrition-related programmes, and doorstep delivery of maternal and child health services. In this report, the Accountability Initiative (AI) at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) highlights the oft-overlooked stories of government functionaries at the frontline of COVID-19 response since the advent of the initial lockdown. The overall objectives covered in this report are: 1. Understanding the evolving role of FLW workers during the pandemic and the impact of COVID work on their regular duties. 2. Gaining insight into the processes and best practices for training, implementation and supportive supervision.