The Mission aims to undertake architectural correction of the Health System to enable it to effectively handle the increased allocation for Public Health, as promised under the National Common Minimum Programme of the United Progress Alliance Government.  It also aims to bridge gaps in rural healthcare through increased community ownership, decentralization of the programmes to the district level, inter-sectoral convergence and improved primary health care.  The Mission aims to achieve the goal of the National Population Policy and the National Health Policy through improved access to affordable, accountable and reliable Primary Health Services. 

Members of Empowered Programme Committee - List & Contact Details of Members

Powers of EPC

Constitution of the Empowered Programme Committee

The NRHM shall have an Executive Committee by the name of the Empowered Programme Committee.  The Constitution of the Empowered Programme Committee is as follows:

Secretary (Health and Family Welfare)                     In the Chair

Secretary (Planning Commission)*                           Member

Secretary (Expenditure)*                                         Member

Secretary (Development of NE Region)*                 Member

Secretary (AYUSH)*                                              Member

Secretary (Panchayati Raj)*                                     Member

Secretary (Women and Child Development)*           Member

Secretary (Drinking Water)*                                    Member

DGHS

Additional Secretary (Financial Advisor)                   Member

Additional Secretary (Health)                                    Member

Additional Secretary (FW)                                        Member

2 Public Health Professionals for 2 years                    Members

Mission Director                                                       Convener

* or their representative

         Two Public Health Professionals shall be nominated to the Empowered Programme Committee by the Mission Steering Group, for a term of 2 years.  The Chairman of the Empowered Programme Committee may co-opt other members to assist the Committee in its task or invite to meetings as special invitees, such persons as may seem necessary.  The Empowered Programme Committee will implement the Mission.  The Empowered Programme Committee shall submit its recommendation to the chairman of the Mission Steering Group for approval.

        The funds and personnel of the Departments of Health and Family Welfare shall be merged and rationalized into a single integrated Department to implement the NRHM and all Health and Family Welfare Programmes. 

         The Ministry will operate its overall budget within the 10^th Plan ceiling, in a holistic manner to meet all needs of the NRHM and related Health & family Welfare programmes on priority, without being constrained by allotments prescribed under different Sub-Heads, Schemes or Departments within the Ministry.  The NRHM would have priority over any enhanced Outlays available for the Ministry in future. The Empowered Programme Committee for the Mission will operate the budget of the Ministry to attain the NRHM objectives.

All future multilateral/bilateral funding for rural areas in healthcare would not be for new programmes or for renewal of existing programmes, but flow as support to National Rural Health Mission.  The NRHM would operate as an omnibus broadband programme by integrating all vertical health programmes of the Departments of Health and Family Welfare including Reproductive & Child Health Programme-II, National Malaria Programme, National Leprosy Eradication Programme, National Kala-Azar Programme, National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Programme, National Filaria Programme, Revised National Tuberculosis Programme and the National Blindness Control Programme.  These programmes would operate as sub components of the NRHM, retaining the independent sub budget lines wherever felt required. 

       The Mission Director will be vested with executive and financial powers as approved by the Mission Steering Group.  Additionally, the Mission will also have the power to frame its own rules and procedures as approved by the Mission Steering Group.

 Health Professionals of Empowered Programme Committee

Powers of EPC

1. The EPC is given flexibility to change financial norms approved by the MSG within a range of ± 25%, with larger variations being approved by the MSG.

2. The exercise of delegated powers by the EPC would be subject to the condition that a progress report regarding NRHM, alongwith deviation in financial norms, modifications in ongoing schemes and details of new schemes are placed before Cabinet for information on an annual basis.