Apurva Chandra Emphasizes Adolescent Well-being with Launch of New Investment Report

Shri Apurva Chandra emphasized India’s leading role with the largest adolescent population globally, numbering 253 million.

On the occasion of the launch of the report “Economic Case for Investment in the Well-being of Adolescents in India,” Shri Apurva Chandra, Union Health Secretary, reaffirmed India’s steadfast commitment to nurturing adolescent talents and supporting their ambitions. The report builds upon the global findings of "Adolescents in a Changing World – The Case for Urgent Investment," released at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, and highlights the significant strides made in adolescent well-being in India over recent decades.

Shri Apurva Chandra emphasized India’s leading role with the largest adolescent population globally, numbering 253 million. He stressed that investing in their health, education, and empowerment is crucial for achieving both national and international development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He highlighted the government’s efforts, including the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), which targets a wide range of adolescents across various demographics and regions, and the School Health and Wellness Programme under Ayushman Bharat, which focuses on health promotion in schools.

Additionally, Shri Chandra announced the upcoming launch of the U-WIN platform, modeled after the Co-WIN platform, which aims to digitize and monitor the health records of children, thereby addressing emerging challenges in adolescent health.

Shri Anandrao V. Patil, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of Education, highlighted the increased budgetary allocation for school education and curriculum modifications to improve skills from the 6th grade onwards. He noted ongoing efforts in enhancing education for children with special needs, promoting menstrual hygiene, and implementing the National Adolescent Health Programme in government schools.

Shri Rajat Khosla, Executive Director of PMNCH, praised India’s significant budgetary allocation of Rs. 2 lakh crore for adolescent well-being in the Union Budget 2024-25. He emphasized the importance of investing in adolescents to address challenges like violence and early pregnancies and acknowledged India’s role as a model for other countries.

Dr. Rodrigo H. Ofrin, WHO Representative to India, commended the government’s initiatives and highlighted the importance of converging various schemes to achieve the SDGs. He underlined that investing in adolescents is essential for securing the nation’s future.

Prof. Bruce Rasmussen, Director of the Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies, presented key findings from the Investment Case for Adolescent Health & Wellbeing, noting significant progress across various domains of adolescent well-being in India. He outlined a cost-benefit model showing how government interventions in education, skill development, and reducing child marriage contribute to increased GDP.

Dr. Yatan Pal Singh Balhara, Professor of Psychiatry at AIIMS New Delhi, pointed out a paradigm shift towards greater attention to mental health in the recent Economic Survey. Dr. Reena Yadav, Director at Lady Hardinge Medical College, emphasized the need for education and privacy in counseling adolescents on sexual and reproductive health.

Youth Representative Ms. Priya Rathore shared her experiences working with adolescent women, highlighting challenges like child marriage and the need for increased rural support and awareness on issues like menstrual hygiene.

The event was attended by Smt. Aradhana Patnaik, Addl. Secretary and MD (NHM) of the Health Ministry, and other senior officials from the Union Health Ministry.