While mental health is frequently discussed these days, the mental well-being of young children is often overlooked. Challenging this trend, the Rajasthan government has taken a historic step in the field of primary education by launching the 'Khushishala' initiative across approximately 1,500 government schools in the state. This is the country's first structured program dedicated to the mental well-being, emotional resilience, and social development of children in classes 1 through 5. Let us explore what 'Khushishala' entails and why it is crucial for school-going children today.

Is there truly a need for mental health programs at the school level?
People often wonder what kind of stress children so young could face. However, research tells a different story. According to a study by experts Vijaya Raman and Shanthi Thomas titled 'School Mental Health Programs in India: Issues and Potential Practical Solutions,' approximately 13 percent of young people under the age of 18 worldwide grapple with some form of serious mental health issue.

Moreover, the onset of most mental health problems occurs before the age of 25. Since children spend a significant and vital part of their day at school, timely interventions at the school level can effectively protect them from depression and stress.

What is 'Khushishala,' and how will the program operate?
Implemented by the Rajasthan State Council of Educational Research and Training (RSCERT), the 'Khushishala' initiative aims to foster emotional resilience in children alongside their academic learning.

According to RSCERT Director Shweta Fagedia, "'Khushishala' has made Rajasthan the first state in India to implement a mental health and well-being program at the primary education level. Its objective is to strengthen the social-emotional skills of children." A key highlight of this program is that it focuses not only on the children but also heavily on enhancing the capabilities of teachers:

**Specialized Training for Teachers**
Under this initiative, teachers undergo a three-day training module and a 21-day audio-based course.

**What Do Teachers Learn?**
The course equips teachers with skills related to emotional awareness, identifying stress in children, building strong relationships, and fostering well-being.

**Teacher Handbook and Mobile Resources:**

To facilitate the easy implementation of these activities in the classroom, teachers are provided with special handbooks and mobile-based resources.

**Impressive Trial Results**
69% Improvement Observed Among Female Students

This program is not limited to claims on paper; it has yielded excellent results on the ground. A pilot project was conducted in the Sirohi and Banswara districts of Rajasthan in 2024, involving 120 teachers.
Following the project, a 53% improvement was observed in the children's social-emotional skills. The most striking and positive results were seen among girls, where the improvement rate reached 69%.

This initiative not only reduced academic stress among children but also strengthened the teacher-student bond, making it far more robust and friendly through playful learning methods.

**What Lies Ahead? 'Khushishala' to Reach 12,000 Schools**
Given the pilot project's immense success, the campaign is now being expanded on a large scale. RSCERT, in collaboration with the Kshamatalaya Foundation, trained 165 teachers in 2025 through both classroom and online modes. Additionally, 1,320 teachers from 33 District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) have already been trained.

**Future Plans**
The scope of the program is now being further expanded during the current academic session. There is a plan to train 11,305 teachers at the panchayat level and extend this initiative to 649 PM SHRI schools across the state. Director Shweta Phagedia stated that upon the completion of these training programs, more than 12,000 schools in Rajasthan will have at least one trained teacher capable of effectively managing 'Khushishala' activities.

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