When a child’s mental health is not properly supported in the impressionable years, it can lead to a range of negative outcomes, including difficulty in learning, social isolation, and behavioural changes. Hence, mental health is an important aspect of the well-being of children, to cope with the daily challenges of life and experience a range of emotions as they grow and learn.
To improve the mental health of the young children of Bundi, Rajasthan, and to help them in fighting off depression and anxiety, the District Magistrate, IAS officer Ravindra Goswami, has initiated ‘Mission Manas’.
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, the officer shared details about the initiative.
MISSION MANAS FOR YOUNG KIDS
Mission Manas was launched to look after the mental health and well-being of the school and college-going children of Bundi, Beginning from 14 years of age to around 21 years, an adolescent becomes highly susceptible to all kinds of evils of society.
A child’s body, intellect, and life go through significant changes at this age. They become extremely susceptible to material addiction and life distortion. In a similar vein, at this age, they are also quite vulnerable to developing depression and other mental health issues. The district administration launched Mission Manas in an effort to prevent this and guide the youngsters toward a better future.
“The project aims to create awareness and tries to push the younger generation towards rejuvenating techniques such as yoga and meditation. Every school has a separate period for physical education, but there is no dedicated period for mental health class. The idea for Mission Manas comes from the fact that the brain controls everything in our body and it should be looked after the most,” Mr. Goswami told Indian Masterminds.
INVOLVING YOUNG MINDS
The officer has partnered with an organisation called ‘Heartfulness’, which sends expert yoga practitioners to schools to educate young children on how to do yoga, explain its benefits, teach breathing exercises and how to keep their minds relaxed in stressful situations, and other such essential activities. This is done to assist the children with their mental health issues and divert their attention toward mind-relaxing techniques and yoga.
“Along with these yoga practitioners, we also have a psychiatrist with us, who takes 30-minute sessions with children, where he talks about mental illnesses and their symptoms, and that the children shouldn’t shy away from seeking help from a psychiatrist if they ever experience these symptoms,” shared the officer.
Mr. Goswami himself, along with other important officers of the administration, have personally visited children in schools and made them understand that failures are a part of life and one should always pause, think, and then move forward whenever they face any difficult situation in life.
VISIBLE RESULTS
Mr. Goswami has conducted 3-4 sessions with the school children till now, and during these sessions, he saw that every child applauded the initiative and thanked the administration for introducing yoga in schools. These young minds had heard the word ‘yoga’ before but had no idea what it was and how it was done. Thanks to the district administration of Bundi, now these young children not only know what yoga is but are also able to perform it well.
Apart from this, the officer also shares his own experiences and failures in front of the students. His words: “Selfie mat lo, apni image banao” (Don’t take selfies. Instead, work on your image) have also become the unofficial tagline of the project. He had uttered these words to a school child who wanted to click a selfie with him.
He also advises the children to have at least one proper meal with all their family members, and to avoid phones or other distractions while taking this meal, so that they can enjoy proper family time with everyone. He further counsels them to do a digital detox, at least for one hour every day, during which, they should go out to play, read a book, or participate in any activity that doesn’t require the use of any technology.
A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT
Mission Manas project has benefitted over 3000 school children of Bundi till now. Every Tuesday, the officer plans a ‘Mission Manas’ session for three hours, where one of the officials visits a school or a college where the programme is scheduled and conducts the session.
After the session, the officer also takes feedback and answers the children’s queries. Then they are provided with appropriate counselling and taught techniques to relax their mind and progress in mental health.
“I want this practice to become an active part of the curriculum in schools. I always feel that mental illness is one of the biggest evils that we are facing because of the rapid urbanization and digital transformation of the world. It is necessary for us to look in this direction and work accordingly for the mental well-being of the kids,” he told Indian Masterminds.
Mr. Goswami is now planning to expand the project further by including the rural areas of the district, as well. He plans to impart yoga training to 10 master trainers from each block, who will cover every single school and college in the district. This expansion plan will be effective within the next six months.
