Lok Sabha Question No. 230 (STARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: School Health Programme under Ayushman Bharat Scheme
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Amol Ramsing Kolhe

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 230 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH MARCH, 2020 SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRA MME UNDER AYUSHMAN BHARAT SCHEME

## *230. DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE: DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Go vernment  is  implementing  School Health  Programmes  to cont rol the prevalence of lifestyle diseases among children;
- (b) if so, the detail s hereof  and  the  mechanism  put in place to monitor and evaluate the said programmes;
- (c)  whether  the  G overnment  has  recently  launched school  health  program me under  Ayushman  Bharat -Healthand  Wellness  Centres to  promote  a  healthy lifestyle among students, if s o, the details and the aims and objectives thereof;
- (d)  whether  his Ministry  has  also  involved  the Ministry  of  Hum an  Resource Development in this initiative, if so, the detail s th reof along with the amount of funds earmarked by the Government for the said initiative;
- (e) the number of schools and the n umber ofstu dents proposed to be covered in the first phase of implementation of this programme; and
- (f) the steps ta ken to popularize the programme ong school children?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a)to (f) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 230* FOR 6 TH MARCH , 2020

(a) to (f) Yes, Government of India has recently launched Health and Well Ambassadors Initiative under Ayushman Bharat to promote a healthy lifest among students. It is a joint initiative of Ministry of Health and Family and Department of Sc hool Education & Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource & Development.

The  aim  of  the  programme  is  to  foster  the  growth,  development  an educational achievement of school going children by promoting their health wellbeing. A total of 11 themes have been identified. These themes are Growing Up Healthy, Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health, Interpersonal Relationships, Values and Responsible Citizenship, Gender Equality, Nutri Health  and  Sanitation,  Promotion  of  Healthy  Lifestyles,  Prevention Manag ement of Substance Misuse, Reproductive Health and HIV Prevention, Safety and Security Against Violence and Injuries and Promotion of Safe Us Internet Media and Social Media.

Two  teachers  in  every  government  school,  designated  as  'Health  and Wellness A mbassadors', will be trained in a 24 - hour curriculum which has been designed  by  NCERT  in  consultation  with  various  experts.  The  Health  an Wellness Ambassador along with Health and Wellness Messengers will transac age  appropriate,  culturally  sensitive  act ivity  based  sessions  for  one  hour  per week in a year in schools to promote joyful learning.

The existing infrastructure of District Institute of Education and T (DIET)  under  the  School  Education  Department  in  States  will  be  used  f capacity build ing of Health and Wellness Ambassadors across the country. The programme  reporting  and  monitoring  will  also  be  carried  out  through existing  mechanism  of  School  Education  Department  i.e.  SHALAKOSH/  U -DISE.

A total of 200 districts have been identified f or implementation of the School Health Programme under Ayushman Bharat in the first phase across t country.    During  FY  2020 - 21,  a  budget  of  Rs  7000  per  school  has  been proposed in the State Programme Implementation Plans for operationalisat of this pr ogramme under National Health Mission. More than 1 Lakh schools will be covered in the first phase of this programme.

This programme will be popularized through ASHA workers, Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (AFHCs) and through various existing social a nd mass media platforms.

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