Jaipur, June 29 (APAC Media): The Rajasthan government has launched a first-of-its-kind mental health and well-being programme for primary school students called ‘Khushishala.’
The initiative aims to support emotional development and life skills among children in government schools.
What is Khushishala?
Khushishala is a structured mental health and well-being programme introduced in around 1,500 government schools in Rajasthan. It is designed for students from Classes 1 to 5 and focuses on emotional well-being, social development, and life skills through activity-based learning.
Officials say Rajasthan has become the first state in India to implement such a programme at the primary education level.
Who is implementing the programme?
The programme is being implemented by the Rajasthan State Council of Educational Research and Training (RSCERT) in collaboration with the Kshamtalaya Foundation.
The initiative combines classroom learning, teacher training, and digital resources to create a supportive school environment for children.
How does the programme work?
Khushishala trains teachers to understand and address students’ emotional needs more effectively.
The teacher training includes:
• A three-day training module
• A 21-day audio-based learning course
• Mobile-based resources and classroom handbooks
The training focuses on emotional awareness, stress recognition, relationship building, and overall well-being.
Teachers are then equipped to conduct age-appropriate activities that help children express emotions, build confidence, and strengthen social skills.
Why is this initiative important?
Mental well-being in early childhood plays a major role in learning and development. Education experts believe teacher-led well-being programmes can improve classroom participation, social interaction, and children’s ability to cope with challenges.
Such programmes also help teachers identify emotional distress early and provide better support.
A pilot project conducted in Sirohi and Banswara districts in 2024 delivered promising results.
Key findings included:
• 53% improvement in students’ socio-emotional skills
• 69% improvement among girls
• Better teacher-student relationships
• Reduced academic stress
The pilot involved 120 teachers and showed strong improvements in emotional development.
What’s next for Khushishala?
Following the pilot’s success, the programme is now being expanded statewide.
RSCERT plans to train 11,305 teachers at the panchayat level and extend Khushishala to 649 PM SHRI schools. Once completed, over 12,000 schools in Rajasthan will have at least one trained teacher to implement the programme.
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