Centre for Knowledge and Development - CKD

Integration of School Health and Wellness Programme in Madarsas: A collaboration of Government of Rajasthan and UNFPA

In a significant step toward enhancing the well-being of adolescents from minority communities, IPE Global Centre for Knowledge and Development, with the Department of Minority Affairs and Waqf, Government of Rajasthan, in close collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), organized an orientation for principals and teachers of over 80 Madarsas from Jaipur and Ajmer districts of Rajasthan on the importance of the School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP) on 23rd October in Jaipur.

During the inaugural address, Sh Chetan Chouhan (Principal Secretary, Madarsa board) shared the significant role of this initiative for adolescents. In the welcome speech, Dr. Deepesh Gupta, State Head of Office, Rajasthan, UNFPA India, highlighted the need for such programs for adolescents and clarified the objectives of the program.

A session was also led by Prof. Mohd. Shahid from Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, who emphasized the importance of Life Skills Education and the SHWP for adolescents from Muslim communities. Experts from UNFPA Bihar shared their experiences of implementing a similar program in Bihar’s Madarsas, and the group discussions explored innovative ideas for the pilot project and ways to address the specific vulnerabilities faced by adolescents in minority communities in Rajasthan.

This pilot project aims to empower the girls and boys studying in Madarsas with essential life skills, providing them with the tools to navigate challenges related to health, well-being, and . Through this initiative, we reach the most vulnerable, promote through education and .

Project Utthan: Tackling Adolescent Mental Health – Key Highlights from the Mentors Online Session

The Mentors Online initiative by National Health Mission, Uttar Pradesh aims to create a platform for Adolescent Health Counselors (AHCs) to learn and interact with experts on key thematic areas. During this Mental Health Month, the Mentors Online session, held on 16th October, focused on adolescent issues, identifying signs and symptoms, addressing them effectively, and guiding referrals to appropriate facilities. Dr. Alok Kumar Shukla, Nodal Tele MANAS, Bareilly, led the technical session, while a separate session by the Tele MANAS mentoring team highlighted the benefits of the mental health helpline and how it can support hashtag by providing counseling through Tele MANAS counselors.

Project Utthan, implemented by , actively engaged with AHCs across all districts and played a key role in coordinating the Mentors Online session with the NHM team. All collaterals developed by , including the mental health banner, leaflet, and monthly calendar, were shared with over 226 participants, who actively participated and gained valuable insights.

You can access the communication collaterals here:
Mental Health Leaflet: https://lnkd.in/g7yusyah
Mental Health Poster: https://lnkd.in/gaRbxRDC
Mental Health Banner: https://lnkd.in/gYvuTCat

Here are some glimpses from the session.