School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP/School Health) and Environment Education Programme (EEP) to promote sustainable lifestyles

What happened: classroom health education and environment education for sustainable lifestyles

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Ministry of Education (MoE) jointly implement the School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP) from 2020. Under SHWP, each school trains two teachers per school as Health and Wellness Ambassadors (HWAs). These HWAs conduct regular sessions on 11 themes that cover nutrition, health and sanitation, growing up healthy, and promotion of healthy lifestyles. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) implements the Environment Education Programme (EEP) as a component of the Central Sector Scheme Environment Education, Awareness, Research and Skill Development (EEARSD). The EEP aims to sensitise children and youth on environment issues and motivate the adoption of sustainable lifestyles through workshops, projects, exhibitions, campaigns, competitions, nature camps, and summer vacation programmes.

Background and earlier position: SHWP uses trained teachers; EEP uses eco-clubs and experiential learning

SHWP delivery relies on school teachers. SHWP trains two teachers per school as HWAs, and those HWAs conduct regular health and wellness sessions using 11 health and wellness themes. EEP delivery relies on non-formal environment education linked to educational institutions. EEP is implemented by designated State/Union Territory-level implementing agencies for children and youth through eco-clubs formed in schools and colleges. The programme emphasis includes hands-on training and experiential learning.

What changed now: EEP aligns activity design with Mission LiFE themes

EEP activities are aligned with seven themes of Mission LiFE. The government communication provides example alignments including “Adopt Sustainable Food System” and “Adopt Healthy Lifestyle”. EEP includes a list of activity formats and practical initiatives, such as: Sustainable Lifestyle Workshops Zero Waste initiatives Alternatives to single use plastic Millet Food Fests Cleanliness drives and beach-cleaning activities Development of kitchen/medicinal and herbal gardens Segregation of dry and wet waste Vermicomposting Yoga and trail walk during nature camps Thematic campaigns for celebrations of environmental days