|
|
|
|
Registered
Office
T-7, 1st Floor,
Green Park Extension,
New Delhi (India)– 110 016
|
|
|
|
|
Working Office
C-1/52, 3rd Floor,
Safdarjung Development Area
New Delhi-110 016, India
Phone: 91-11-26850342, 41031191
Fax: 91-11-26850331
info@hriday-shan.org
|
|
|
|
|
| GET INVOLVED |
|
|
|
|
An apple a day....
The Hindustan Times School's Programme, Monday,
January 10, 2000
Along with working towards a
cleaner environment, school students in Delhi have set
their focus on another important aspect- health care and
awareness - through programmes such as HRIDAY- SHAN and
SHARP. At these forums, students debate, discuss and
issue charters that they hope the government of India
will implement for a healthier future.
At a
student Parliament on policies for Health held last week
at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, students
discussed recommendation outlined within their schools,
and a student charter on the health of the nation. The
main focus was- safe drinking water, diet and nutrition,
tobacco, physical activity, environment and peace for
health.
|
 |
|
In 1998, 25,000
students had presented a appeal to Prime Minister Atal
Behari Vajpayee urging the government to take action and
implement a policy that would lead to a “tobacco” free
society” under HRIDAY(Health Related Information
Dissemination Amongst Youth ). Launched in 1992, HRIDAY
provided school-based health education to help students
take on healthy lifestyle practices. It also provided
educational material to students under a grant from the
Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. By 1996, HRIDAY introduced
“home team” materials like story based activities, Trek
to the Health Track, under which the student involved
her family in the process, spreading the message
further.
Ruchika Khattar, Class XI, DPS, R K Puram,
says “This way we can make Indians aware about an
important aspect of the future- health. But fighting
tobacco use is the toughest as the taxes paid by tobacco
produces is the largest source of revenue for the
government.”
While
HRIDAY actively focused on tobacco, agriculture, food
processing, urban transport and industrial pollution
through student discussions in schools and inter-school
debates followed by issuing of charters on various
health-related issues, it realised information wasn’t
enough. It realised the need to promote action in this
area and thus was formed SHAN (Student Health Action
Network). With the motto,” Debate the present to define
the future,” the 14-17- year -old Delhi students try to
evolve consensus on actions at the individual, family,
school and community levels. IN 1998, SHAN initiated a
student charter SCHOOL (Student Charter on Health Of Our
Land). |
| |
With more and more schools realising
the importance of targeting the youth and influencing
lifestyle in a positive way, today HRIDAY -SHAN has a
network of 62 schools like Mother’s International,
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, St. Columba’s, St. Mark’s
Janakpuri, DPS RK Puram, Bluebells International, Father
Agenl School, Mount St. Mary’s, Springdales DK, Tagore
International Kailash Colony, Amity International Saket,
Greenfields Public School Dilshad Garden, among others
involving their students in all kinds of discussions
that led to SCHOOL.
Under SCHOOL, students promoted
health, as the fate of the society and country rests on
it. They also believe there is a need fro policies that
will protect subsequent generations. To ensure this is
done, they urge the government to take out policies like
Safe Drinking Water Mission, National Nutrition Policy,
National Tobacco Control Programme, Urban Planning,
Education and National Sports Policies, National
Environment Protection Policy and nuclear disarmament
policies.
|
 |
|
| |
According to Anupam Ganesh, teacher
co-ordinator, HRIDAY-SHAN, St Mark’s Janakpuri, “Since
1997, we have been holding debates, talks and seminars
in school. Students discuss issues like peace keeping,
how violence and war can psychologically affect health
and what can be done to prevent such incidents. We also
lay stress on water, tobacco and environmental issues.
The importance of physical exercise is emphasised in
school.”
Another programme actively promoting
health is Delhi schools is SHARP (Schools Annual Health
Report Programme) which holds awareness camps on issues
like AIDS and petroleum conservation in 200 schools and
does general check-ups advising students about the
necessity of following proper diet. Among its other
activities, SHARP also hosts inter- school declamation
contests, poster making and quiz among student to make
the learning process fun.
Prabhnoor Singh, Class XI,
St Columba’s says, “Under SHAN we talk to students from
classes IV to VII, as we feel it is easier to change
habits during those years. We distribute pamphlets and
hold competitions to let students have fun while
acquiring health habits.” And yet things are not easy as
they seem. Prabhnoor feels, “The major drawback is the
short attention span of students we target. But repeated
talks and discussions are bound to make a difference
someday.” On the other hand Ruchika Khattar says,
“Co-ordination is the major problem. With so many
schools involved, it is not easy to meet very often. As
there are 10year -olds as well, special permission is
needed. However, every meeting and discussion goes a
long way towards promoting health.”.
Students are
set to impact the health of the citizens. |
|
| |
| Back |
| |
|
|
