Rajasthan Pioneers School Mental Health Programme
Rajasthan has become the first state in India to introduce a structured mental health and well-being programme at the primary education level with the launch of the 'Khushishala' initiative in around 1,500 government schools. The programme, implemented by the Rajasthan State Council of Educational Research and Training (RSCERT), focuses on students from Classes 1 to 5, targeting their emotional well-being, social development, and life skills through activity-based learning.
Programme Components and Teacher Training
RSCERT Director Shweta Fagediya said that the initiative includes mental health and capacity-building training for teachers, enabling them to better understand and address children's emotional needs. Under the programme, teachers undergo a three-day training module along with a 21-day audio-based course focusing on emotional awareness, stress recognition, relationship building, and well-being. Special teacher handbooks and mobile-based resources have also been developed to facilitate classroom activities.
"Khushishala has made Rajasthan the first state in India to implement a mental health and well-being programme at the primary education level. The objective is to strengthen children's emotional resilience and social-emotional skills while equipping teachers to better understand and support students' emotional needs," Fagediya said. She added that the programme goes beyond teacher training and focuses on helping educators effectively translate well-being concepts into age-appropriate classroom activities.
Pilot Project Results Show Significant Improvement
A pilot project conducted in Sirohi and Banswara districts in 2024 yielded encouraging results. Fagediya mentioned that the pilot involved 120 teachers and recorded a 53 per cent improvement in socio-emotional skills among students. Among girls, the improvement reached 69 per cent. The findings also indicated stronger teacher-student relationships and greater emotional development among children. She added that the programme helped reduce academic stress and encouraged children to enjoy learning through interactive activities.
Expansion Plans and Future Targets
Following the pilot's success, RSCERT, in collaboration with Kshamtalaya Foundation, trained 165 teachers in 2025 through a combination of classroom and online learning. In addition, 1,320 teachers from 33 District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) were trained. The initiative is now being expanded under the current academic session. There are plans to train 11,305 teachers at the panchayat level and extend the programme to 649 PM SHRI schools across the state.
"After the completion of these training programmes, more than 12,000 schools in Rajasthan will have at least one trained teacher capable of implementing Khushishala activities among primary school students," Fagediya said. According to education experts, teacher-led well-being programmes can improve classroom participation, social interaction, and students' ability to cope with challenges. Such interventions also help teachers identify and respond to children's emotional needs more effectively.
