Manodarpan Initiative

Manodarpan Initiative- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 2: Governance, Administration and Challenges- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes.

Recently ‘Manodarpan’, the initiative has been taken by the government, covering a wide range of activities to provide psychosocial support to students, teachers and families for Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing during the COVID outbreak and beyond.

About: Manodarpan Initiative is a part of various initiatives taken by the government to ensure the mental wellness of the students and associated people like teachers and families, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parent Ministry: Manodarpan Initiative is being implemented by the Ministry of Education.
Working Group: A Working Group, having experts from the fields of education, mental health and psychosocial issues as its members, has been set up. It aims
- To monitor and promote the mental health issues and concerns of students and
- To facilitate providing of support to address the mental health and psychosocial aspects during and after COVID-19, through counselling services, online resources and helpline.

Advisory Guidelines for students, teachers and faculty of School systems and Universities along with families.
Web page on Ministry of Education website carrying advisory, practical tips, posters, videos, do’s and don’ts for psychosocial support, FAQs and online query system.
National level database and directory of counsellors at School and University levels.
National Toll-free Helpline (8448440632) for a countrywide outreach to students from schools, universities and colleges.
Handbook on Psychosocial Support: Enriching Life skills and Wellbeing of Students
Webinars, audio-visual resources including videos, posters, flyers, comics, and short films with a focus on the convergence of resources from other Ministries/Departments on physical and creative well-being which are essential parts of mental well-being.