Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committee (VHSNC)

Assam has a total of 28149 VHSNCs in the 35 districts of Assam. Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs) under NHM Assam serve as community-led platforms for local self-governance, enabling villages to address health, nutrition, sanitation, and related determinants through collective planning and action.​

Meeting Details

Meetings occur on the 15th of every month in a public space like a community hall, requiring at least two-thirds member attendance, including the mandatory PRI president, with ASHA as convener responsible for minutes and cash book updates. Block officials, supervisors, and CHOs attend periodically for oversight, and findings upload to the Swasthya Sewa Dapoon portal; biannual Jan Samwad on the 15th of every sixth month publicly shares progress and records.​

Salient Features

• At least 50% women members for inclusive decision-making.​
• Annual untied fund of ₹10,000 for community-benefiting activities in nutrition, sanitation, environmental protection, and public health, with transparent management via participatory resolutions and Gram Sabha presentations.​
• Convergence with line departments; leverages local resources and avoids duplication of PRI-funded works.​
• Emphasis on emergency support for vulnerable households and activities like cleanliness drives or mosquito source reduction.​
• Decision making at grassroot level and procurement of items etc. required for health strengthening, nutrition and hygiene, referral transport and helping the needy to avail proper health services.