Lok Sabha Question No. 35 (STARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being in Schools under NEP
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Behanan Benny, P.R. Natarajan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 35 ANSWERED ON 05.02.2024

Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being in Schools under NEP

## *35. SHRI BENNY BEHANAN: SHRI NATARAJAN P.R.:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the  measures  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  implement  a framework  for  mental  health  and  emotional  well-being  in  schools  under  the  National Educational Policy (NEP);
- (b) whether  there  is  any  mandatory  provision  to  have  counsellor  to  ensure  mental well being of the students;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  provision  of  fund  made  through  public-private sharing;
- (d) whether the Government is having any proposal to launch comprehensive policy to ensure mental well being of the school students;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for addressing the rising trend of youth migrating abroad for higher education?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO THE PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 35 FOR ANSWER ON 05.02.2024 ASKED BY HON'BLE M.P.  SHRI  BENNY  BEHANAN  AND  HON'BLE  M.P.  SHRI  NATARAJAN  P.R. REGARDING  'MENTAL  HEALTH  AND  EMOTIONAL  WELL-BEING  IN  SCHOOLS UNDER NEP' (a) to (e): National Education Policy 2020 takes a holistic view about the nourishment of children and their mental wellbeing which is required for optimal learning. NEP suggests multifarious  ways  to  achieve  the  same.  For  the  nourishment  of  the  children,  PM POSHAN Scheme is being implemented under which hot cooked meals are provided to the students studying in Balvatika and classes I-VIII in the Government and Government-aided Schools. About 11.56 crore students studying in 10.64 lakh schools have been benefitted under the scheme. During 2023-24, health check-up of about 6.98 crore  students  has  been  carried  out  by  States  and  UTs  under  the  Rashtriya  Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) till 30 th  November, 2023. As  per  the  perspective  of  NEP  2020,  NCERT  has  developed  and  launched  National Curriculum  Framework for  the  Foundational  Stage  (NCF-FS)  and  National  Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE). Both the NCFs integrate the mental wellbeing  of  students  in  different  aspects  such  as  syllabi  development,  development  of content in learning and teaching material, pedagogical practices etc. The framework also lays  emphasis  on  the  role  of  all  stakeholders,  teachers,  school  functionaries,  parents and  community  members  to  ensure  that  every  student  is  provided  with  mental  and emotional support. For mental health and wellbeing, the Government has launched an initiative, Manodarpan, under 'AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan' on 21 st  July, 2020, with the aim to provide psychosocial support to students, their families and teachers across the country, for  mental  health  and  well-being.  A  National  toll-free  tele-helpline  (844-844-0632)  for reaching  out  to  students  from  schools,  colleges  and  universities  across  the  country seeking support on mental health concerns and other psychosocial issues. The services offered  on  the  helpline  are  free  of  cost.  Manodarpan  also  provides  Directory  of Counsellors working at both School and College/University level on (https://manodarpan.education.gov.in)  as a resource for students. Live interactive sessions 'Sahyog' are organized for students on PM e-Vidya Channels, with practicing counsellors and are held from Monday to Friday (from 05:00 pm- 05:30 pm) across different regions. These sessions can be viewed on PM e-Vidya Channels and 'NCERT Official' YouTube Channel

(https://www.youtube.com/@NCERTOFFICIAL/streams). The  total  'SAHYOG'  sessions held so far are 725 and more than 10 lakh viewers have been benefitted.

(f): The Government has taken various steps to improve the quality of education and to retain  the  students  in  the  country.  The  total  number  of  Higher  Education  Institutions (HEIs)  has  increased  to  58,643  in  2021-22  from  51,534  in  2014-15.  42  New  Higher Educational Institutions which include 8 Central Universities, 7 IITs, 8 IIMs, 16 IIITs, 2 IISERs & IISc and 1 NIT & IIEST have been established. The number of Universities / University level Institutions has increased to 1,168 in 2021-22 from 760 Universities in 2014-15  i.e.,  408  Institutions  were  added.  The  number  of  colleges  has  increased  to 45,473  in  2021-22  from  38,498  Colleges  in  2014-15.  During  the  8-year  period,  i.e., 2014-15  to  2021-22,  6,975  new  colleges  were  added.  Government  Colleges  have increased  to  9,193  in  2021-22  from  7,885  in  2014-15.  Under  the  Prime  Minister's Research  Fellowship  scheme,  attractive  fellowship  is  offered  to  selected  students  to pursue their Ph. D. in Indian Universities/ Institutions. The Government has sanctioned establishment of Research Parks at IITs- Madras, Bombay, Kharagpur, Kanpur, Delhi, Guwahati,  Hyderabad,  Gandhinagar  and  IISc  Bangalore  to  augment  the  research ecosystem in the Country to enable the students to pursue their R&D interests in India, through innovative research.

The total enrolment in Higher Education has increased to nearly 4.33 crore in 2021-22 from 3.42 crore in 2014-15, i.e., an increase of around 91 Lakh in the enrolment. The Enrolment in Universities has increased to 96.38 Lakh in 2021-22 from 63.87 Lakh in 2014-15. The Enrolment in Colleges has increased to 3.03 Crore in 2021-22 from 2.52 Crore in 2014-15. The Number of Ph.D. enrolment has increased to 2.12 lakh in 2021-22 from 1.17 Lakh in 2014-15. The Female Ph.D. enrolment has doubled to 0.98 Lakh in 2021-22 from 0.48 Lakh in 2014-15.

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