LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government will introduce the ‘My Health World’ book in all Basic Education Council schools and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) from July. This will teach children about healthy eating, fitness, mental well-being and good lifestyle habits from an early age. The book has been developed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under its Eat Right India campaign. Students will receive special study material in both Hindi and English, which will be used during classroom lessons, morning assemblies, school health programmes and parent-teacher meetings. It will not be included in the regular school curriculum.
All you need to know about ‘My Health World’
The book has been designed in a simple and illustrated format so that children can easily understand important health concepts. It explains how major organs like the heart, lungs, brain, liver, kidneys and eyes function and how healthy habits help keep them strong. Students will be taught about –
- The importance of eating a balanced and nutritious diet
- Why junk food should be avoided
- Good personal hygiene habits
- Mental health and emotional well-being
- The benefits of yoga, sports and daily physical activity
- Maintaining a healthy balance between screen time and other activities
- Why getting enough sleep is important
The value of reading books and spending less time on mobile phones and other digital devices.
One of the major highlights is creating awareness about balanced screen time. Schools will encourage children to use digital devices responsibly and spend more time reading books, playing outdoor games and participating in physical activities. Libraries will also be promoted so that students develop a regular reading habit.
Instead of only classroom lessons, schools will organise various activities to make health education more interesting. Students will not just learn about health from books but also through fun and interactive activities. Schools will organise poster-making and drawing competitions, essay writing, debates, quizzes, role-plays, skits, cricket and other sports, along with project-based learning. This will help children in understanding the importance of healthy living. Health and nutrition will also be included in Bagless Day activities which will give practical, hands-on learning experiences to children and encourage them to adopt healthy habits in their daily lives.
Role of Teachers
Basic Shiksha Adhikari Anil Kumar said teachers will receive a 10 minute orientation session during training programmes to help them understand the book and use it effectively in classrooms. After the training, teachers will regularly discuss the lessons with students and encourage them to adopt healthy habits in their daily lives.
The initiative is not limited to students alone. Schools will also spread health and nutrition messages through notice boards, School Management Committee meetings, WhatsApp groups and parent interactions so that healthy habits are encouraged at home as well.
