IAS Officer Makes Health a School Subject in Narnoor

In Narnoor's schools, students were showing up with anemia, poor hygiene habits, and mounting stress. IAS officer Rajarshi Shah realized textbooks alone couldn't help kids thrive if they didn't know how to take care of themselves first.

His solution was beautifully simple: make health a regular school subject. He launched Aarogya Patashala, a program that dedicates one lesson each weekday to a different aspect of wellness, turning good health from an afterthought into a weekly habit.

Monday focuses on hygiene. Tuesday covers nutrition. Wednesday teaches stress management through breathing exercises. Thursday addresses addiction prevention. Friday prepares students for seasonal illnesses like flu and heat stroke. Saturday builds confidence and leadership skills.

The transformation didn't happen through lectures or one-off workshops. It came through repetition and practice. Students now challenge each other to proper handwashing technique, debate which foods have the most iron at lunchtime, and practice calming breaths before big exams.

Once a month, schools host Aarogya Jathra, where learning spills into celebration. Students perform skits about health topics, compete in wellness quizzes, and lead rallies through their villages. The kids become the teachers, spreading what they've learned to their entire community.

For remote hamlets without access to health experts, Shah created Aarogya FM. Doctors, counselors, and educators share advice in simple language over the radio. Schools tune in during class, and families gather around to listen at home.

The Ripple Effect

The program's impact reaches far beyond the classroom walls. Children are bringing lessons home, teaching parents to wash hands properly, eat more nutritious meals, and maintain cleaner living spaces. School absenteeism has dropped as students get sick less often. Awareness of preventable health issues has risen across entire villages.

Shah's vision is raising a generation equipped not just for careers, but for healthier, fuller lives. One weekly habit at a time, thousands of children are learning that taking care of yourself is just as important as any subject in their textbooks.