Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha emphasized on Friday that the children of present-day will guide the country in the future, making it essential to prioritise their physical and mental health.
“We must look after the physical and mental health of children. Only when they are healthy can they give special attention to their studies. Keeping that goal in mind, the Ayushman Bharat School Health Mission project has been launched,” he said.
Dr. Saha made these remarks while inaugurating the Ayushman Bharat School Health Mission at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala on Friday. The program was organized jointly by the School Education Department and the National Health Mission.
During the event, Dr. Saha highlighted that several initiatives are being undertaken under the National Health Mission.
“Among these, the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) is one of the key initiatives. Programs like the Menstrual Hygiene Program, Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation Program, National Deworming Day, and National Tobacco Control Program are also being implemented.
Children are one of the most valuable assets of society. Ensuring their health and well-being is a priority because they are future leaders. Hence, the Ayushman Bharat School Health Mission has been launched to keep them healthy,” he said.
Dr. Saha, who is also the Health Minister, shared that as a pilot project in Tripura, the Ayushman Bharat School Health Mission will be implemented in 125 Vidya Jyoti schools in the first phase following the guidelines of NITI Aayog.
“About 90,000 students will directly benefit from this initiative. Later, the project will be extended to all schools in the state, including government and government-aided institutions. This project is based on six pillars, including health, nutrition, and education curriculum. Everyone must work together to ensure its success,” he said.
The Chief Minister further emphasized that if children are not physically healthy, they will struggle to concentrate on their studies. However, when they are healthy, they can focus better on their education.
Distinguished guests at the event included NITI Aayog member Dr. VK Pal, NITI Aayog State Nodal Advisor Rajiv Kumar Sen, State Health Department Secretary Kiran Gitte, Special Secretary to the Education Department Ravel Hemendra Kumar, and Director of Education N.C. Sharma. Students and teachers from various schools also participated in the program.
(Tripura, Northeast)
