Abstract: The framework for NRHM entails that as AWW has been engrossed in ICDS and has not been able to act as change agent on health ASHA would fill her role. However the major difference between an ASHA and AWW comes in terms of her identity of being from the community and being involved as a change agent for the community. She is supposed to play an immense role in village health plan along with PRI members and other stakeholders of the community. Although she is considered as the activist who would fill the void for creating a full-fledged community participation in health planning, the incentivised nature of the program, stringent monitoring for fulfilling coverage of vertical programs, the emphasis on skill building of ASHA in the training modules specifically for functioning as community mobiliser for JSY, immunization, family planning has restricted her role only to a health worker at periphery. This paper reads in to the aspect of activism in conceptualisation of ASHA vis-a vis the field reality.