Lok Sabha Question No. 2919 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-07
Subject: Manodarpan
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Jayant Sinha

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2919 ANSWERED ON-07/08/2023

## Manodarpan

## 2919. SHRI JAYANT SINHA:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of beneficiaries covered under the Government's Manodarpan initiative to provide psychosocial support for mental health and well-being, State-wise;
- (b) the number of beneficiaries covered under the initiative for the State of Jharkhand, especially in the districts of Hazaribagh and Ramgarh; and
- (c) the initiatives of the Government to incorporate mental health education and gender sensitization into the mainstream curriculum?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

- (a)  &  (b):  Manodarpan  has  been  reaching  out  to  students,  teachers,  parents  and families from all states and UTs across the country through activities such as: -
- National toll-free helpline (8448440632 ) : The helpline has a countrywide outreach to  students  from  schools,  colleges  and  universities  and  to  their  families  and teachers,  including  those  from  state  of  Jharkhand.  Tele-counselling  services  are provided  to  the  callers  seeking  support  on  mental  health  and  other  psychosocial issues . Number of calls received on IVRS and callers provided tele-counselling so far is 25,435.
- Live  discussion  sessions  and  webinars: 'SAHYOG'  sessions,  which  are  held from Monday to Friday (05:00 pm to 05:30 pm) with practicing counsellors from all the  region  of  the  country  (including  the  Eastern  region  covering  the  state  of Jharkhand). Some of the topics covered are strengthening study habits, preventing examination phobia, time management, keeping oneself physically and emotionally fit, building resilience, understanding  and  regulating  emotions,  etc.  The  total viewership of different 'SAHYOG' sessions held so far is around 6,00,000.
- 'Paricharcha' webinars ,  which are held every Friday from 02:30 pm to 04:00 pm with  experts  in  the  field  of  mental  health,  highlight  the  regional  context  and  build perspectives across inter-related disciplines. Some of the topics focused on in these webinars  include  understanding  needs  and  concerns  for  mental  health  and  wellbeing,  managing stress in the face of board exams, building positive study habits and  enhancing  concentration  for  better  performance,  etc.  The  total  viewership  of different  'Paricharcha'  webinars  held  from  1 st   July,  2023  up  to  31 st July,  2023  is

11,779. 'Paricharcha' and 'SAHYOG' are telecast on PM e-Vidya channels and are also available on 'NCERT Official' YouTube Channel.

- Mental Health Week and International Mental Health Day celebration are facilitated in schools across the country every year since 2020.  The aim is to build awareness and  enhance  mental  health  among  students  through  participation  in  experiential activities related to well-being.

(c):  Ministry  of  Education  (MoE),  Government  of  India  has  launched  an  initiative, Manodarpan, under 'AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan', with the aim to provide psychosocial  support  to  students,  their  families  and  teachers  across  the  country,  for mental health and well-being during the times of COVID-19 and beyond.

The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 document, has also highlighted the role of mental health in holistic development of students. The policy states that children learn optimally when they are nourished and healthy. Hence, nutrition and health (including mental health) of children will be addressed, through healthy meals and the introduction of well-trained social workers, counsellors, and community involvement into the school system.

The National Education Policy 2020 also envisages an inclusive and structural change in  the  educational  system.  It  has  a  separate  section  dedicated  to  Equitable  and Inclusive Education: Learning for All (section 6) which states that education is the single greatest  tool  for  achieving  social  justice  and  equality.  It  has  categorized    SocioEconomically  Disadvantaged  Groups  (SEDGs)  broadly  categorized  based  on  gender identities  (particularly  female  and  transgender  individuals),  socio-cultural  identities (such  as  Scheduled  Castes,  Scheduled  Tribes,  OBCs,  and  minorities),  geographical identities  (such  as  students  from  villages,  small  towns,  and  aspirational  districts), disabilities  (including  learning  disabilities),  and  socio-economic  conditions  (such  as migrant communities, low income households, children in vulnerable situations, victims of or children of victims of trafficking, orphans including child beggars in urban areas, and the urban poor).

The Policy also elaborates that the school curriculum will include, early on, material on human  values  such  as  respect  for  all  persons,  empathy,  tolerance,  human  rights, gender  equality,  non-violence,  global  citizenship,  inclusion,  and  equity.  It  would  also include  more  detailed  knowledge  of  various  cultures,  religions,  languages,  gender identities, etc. to sensitize and develop respect for diversity. Any  biases and stereotypes in school curriculum will be removed, and more material will be included that is relevant and relatable to all communities.

In  pursuance  of  the  National  Education  Policy  2020,  the  NCERT  has  initiated  the process  of  development  of  the  four  new  National  Curriculum  Frameworks  for  School Education,  Early  Childhood  Care  and  Education,  Teacher  Education      and  Adult Education. The concern of including gender sensitization in the mainstream curriculum will be placed before the Syllabus Committees and Textbook Development Committees of various subjects across all stages for integration in   the curriculum and textbooks.

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