Rajasthan launches ‘Khushishala’ program in 1,500 government schools to promote mental health and well-being of students
For years, discussions in schools have focused on grades, attendance and learning outcomes. Rajasthan is now trying to add another measure to that list: how children feel in the classroom.The state has launched the ‘Khushishala’ mental health and well-being program for students of classes 1 to 5 in about 1,500 government schools. Officials said Rajasthan is the first state in the country to introduce such a structured program at the primary level.The program, implemented by the Rajasthan Council of Educational Research and Training (RSCERT), uses classroom activities to help children develop emotional resilience, social skills and life skills. But the program isn’t just for students.
center teacher
Led by Khushishala, teachers will undergo a three-day training program followed by 21-day audio courses on emotional awareness, stress recognition, relationship building and well-being. A teacher’s manual and mobile resources are also prepared to support classroom activities.Shweta Fgediya, Director, RSCERT, said, “Khushishala makes Rajasthan the first state in India to implement a mental health and well-being program at the primary education level. The goal is to enhance emotional resilience and social-emotional skills in children while helping teachers better understand and support the emotional needs of students.”
Pilot determines deployment
The scheme was piloted in 2024 in Sirohi and Banswara districts.Fgediya said the pilot project involved 120 teachers and resulted in a 53% improvement in students’ social-emotional skills. Among girls, the improvement rate reached 69%.“Research results also show that teacher-student relationships are stronger and children have better emotional development,” she said, adding that the program also helps reduce academic stress.After the pilot, teachers across the state were trained by RSCERT and Kshamtalaya Foundation. The program is currently being expanded with plans to train 11,305 panchayat level teachers and expand it to 649 PM SHRI schools.If the rollout goes as planned, more than 12,000 schools in Rajasthan will have at least one teacher trained to conduct Khushishala activities. (Institutional investment)
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