Prayagraj: In a major initiative to promote health awareness among school children, all Basic Education Council schools and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) across Uttar Pradesh will be provided with the ‘My Health World’ book from July.Developed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under its Eat Right India campaign, the book aims to inculcate healthy lifestyle practices, nutrition awareness and better understanding of physical and mental well-being among students.The book, available in both Hindi and English, has been designed as a supplementary learning resource and is not part of the regular curriculum. It will be used during classroom teaching, morning assemblies, Bal Sabhas, parent-teacher meetings, school health programmes and other academic activities to reinforce the importance of healthy living.Presented in a simple, engaging and illustrated format, the book explains the functions and care of vital organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, brain, eyes and kidneys. It also educates children about the impact of healthy and unhealthy habits, balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management and the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle from an early age.Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Anil Kumar said teachers would also be oriented about the contents of the book through a 10-minute session during teacher training programmes. After the orientation, teachers will regularly discuss the book’s lessons with students and encourage them to incorporate healthy practices into their daily lives.Special emphasis will be laid on creating awareness about the harmful effects of junk food, the importance of regular exercise, yoga and sports, and maintaining a balance between screen time and outdoor activities. Students will also be sensitised about the safe and responsible use of digital devices and the significance of getting adequate, quality sleep. Schools have been directed to ensure that sports and yoga activities are conducted as per the prescribed timetable, while children will also be encouraged to develop reading habits by making greater use of library books.To make health education more interactive, schools have been instructed to organise a series of co-curricular activities, including project work, poster-making competitions, painting, speeches, debates, quizzes, role plays, skits, science-based activities and other experiential learning programmes centred on health, nutrition and healthy living.Schools will further disseminate health and nutrition messages through notice boards, departmental WhatsApp groups, School Management Committee meetings and other communication platforms to ensure that awareness extends beyond classrooms to parents and the wider community.The ‘My Health World’ book is also available for download through the Eat Right India portal, enabling schools, teachers and parents to access the resource digitally and reinforce healthy habits among children both in school and at home.
