Hygiene practices and environmental consciousness among school children

The Ministry of Education, citing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, is prioritising health education, hygiene and environmental consciousness in schools. It highlights schemes such as Samagra Shiksha, Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN), School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP), Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) and Eco Clubs for Mission LiFE. Under PM POSHAN, about 10.23 crore students in 10.33 lakh government/ aided schools receive nutritious meals and hygiene education. Samagra Shiksha supports Eco Clubs that conduct plantation, cleanliness drives and other eco‑activities. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare jointly runs SHWP, training two teachers per school as Health and Wellness Ambassadors to cover 11 health‑related themes. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change implements the Environment Education Programme (EEP) to sensise children on sustainable lifestyles through workshops, waste‑management projects and nature‑based activities.