70 representatives from 34 states and Union Territories engage in discussions

Lucknow : Recognizing the critical importance of youth education, physical and mental health, and social development for the nation’s future, the Yogi government is taking proactive steps in alignment with the Ministry of Education’s initiative. In collaboration with the National Population Education Project (NPEP) and under the supervision of NCERT, New Delhi, the state government is organizing a high-level brainstorming session.

Notably, the event will see participation from around 70 representatives, including delegates from 34 states and union territories, along with five regional education institutes, aiming to address key challenges and opportunities in adolescent development.

This brainstorming session is an effort to formulate policies for the holistic development of youth and to discuss issues related to their education, health, and social welfare.

The program, with the participation of the Department of Education in Social Science, NCERT New Delhi, and SCERT Uttar Pradesh, focuses on efforts to inspire adolescents to adopt a healthy lifestyle, prioritize mental health, and play a positive role in society. Discussions are also being held on plans to advance these initiatives.

This session places special emphasis on issues related to the physical health, as well as the mental and social well-being, of adolescents. Considering the growing threat of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, cancer, and respiratory illnesses, efforts are being made to explore ways to raise health awareness among adolescents in UP.

Director, Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, informed over the phone that the mid-term review of the National Population Education Project (NPEP) is underway under the aegis of NCERT, from October 19 to 21. During this review, the population education activities carried out by all states/union territories, SCERT, and regional education institutes during the first half of the 2024-25 fiscal year are being assessed.

Prof. Gauri Srivastava of NCERT stated that this brainstorming session is focused on adolescent education and holistic development, in line with the guidelines of the National Education Policy 2020 and NCF 2023. Efforts are being made to ensure that policies for adolescent development are accurately and effectively formulated based on data received from various states.

According to Ganesh Kumar, Director of SCERT Lucknow, the importance of teamwork, value addition, and India’s knowledge traditions is also being highlighted under the National Education Policy (2020). This serves as a mid-term review of the progress of the plan.

Dr Pawan Sachan, Joint Director of SCERT Uttar Pradesh, stated that during this three-day brainstorming session, experts and representatives are engaged in discussions and mid-term reviews on key issues concerning the future of adolescents, continuing until October 21. The goal is to formulate concrete policies aimed at empowering and raising awareness among the country’s younger generation.

Dr. Sachan further emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive perspective on the physical and mental changes that occur during adolescence, the need for physical exercise and playgrounds, as well as addressing the dangers of drug addiction and internet overuse.

According to a report by ICMR, there has been a significant increase in deaths due to non-communicable diseases in India between 1990 and 2016. In light of this, the Yogi government has now launched special campaigns to promote healthy diets, regular exercise, and drug abstinence among adolescents in UP. However, efforts to further strengthen these initiatives are still ongoing.

Minister of State for Basic Education (Independent Charge) Sandeep Singh said that another important objective of this brainstorming session is to prepare adolescents to be active and responsible citizens in society. Serious discussions are taking place on issues such as child marriage, substance abuse, and social violence, to provide adolescents with proper guidance to address these challenges.