Day 1: Friday, 11 September 2020
The Faculty of Education from Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth’s School of Ethics, Governance, Culture and Social Systems (EGCS) organised a three-day webinar on ‘’Enhancing Health Behaviour for Wellbeing’ for parents and teachers. The webinar was held from 11 to 13 September from 3.30 to 5 pm. The webinar had over 90 participants comprising parents, teachers, Ph.D. scholars and students, from different parts of India including Kerala, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, West-Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Hyderabad. All the sessions were well received and appreciated by the participants.
Dr. Pramod Dinakar, Assistant Professor, Department of Education set the stage with an invocation. In his inaugural address, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Nagaraj Neerchal highlighted the significance of Integrated Teacher Education Programmes, one of the major recommendations of the NEP 2020. He also stressed the importance of advanced health practices in the context of COVID-19 and the relevance of this webinar in the present scenario, underlining the role of teachers and parents in developing healthy behaviours in the youth.
Dr. Bindu M.P., Assistant Professor, Department of Education, presented the concept note about the theme of the webinar. Dr. Vanisree Ramanathan, Head of the School of Ethics, Governance, Culture and Social System rendered the official welcome.
The first session on ‘Importance of Health Behaviour’ was handled by Dr. Sreekumar Nampoothiri, Rtd. Medical Officer, Founder and former coordinator of ‘SPANDANAM’ project for adolescents by Kerala Government. He discussed Health, Behaviour and Development as the three key aspects of the overall development of an individual. Citing case studies from his professional experience, he explained the importance of health and a positive environment for physical and mental wellbeing. He also elaborated the role of parents and teachers in building healthy behaviour by taking examples from Indian Knowledge System. The session ended with a Q&A followed by a Vote of Thanks by Sri. G. Shekhar, Assistant Professor, Department of Education.
Day 2: Saturday, 12 September 2020
On day 2, Prof. Pasala Geervani, Pro-Chancellor of Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth gave a special address. Dr. Geervani is an eminent research scholar with 40 years of experience in research and teaching at reputed institutions in India and abroad. She highlighted the importance of filling the gap between what we advocate and practice, saying behaviour itself is the culture and hence healthy behaviour reflects the culture we belong to. Expressing her concern over the present school curriculum in light of the necessity of addressing health problems right from the primary level, she stressed the significance of health clubs at the school level to monitor the health and hygienic practices among students.
Dr. Augustine George, Assistant Professor, Government Medical College, Kottayam, spoke on ‘Nutrition and Exercise for Wellbeing’. The speaker brought out the importance of healthy food habits and systematic exercise for wellbeing. He highlighted the need for the removal of junk food and HSSF (High Salt and Sugar Food) food from school premises. He provided scientific reasoning highlighting the prominence of yoga for wellbeing. Dr. Pamod Dinakar, Assistant Professor, Department of Education gave the Vote of Thanks.
Day 3: Sunday, 13 September 2020
After the invocation by Dr. Bindu M. P., Shri G. Shekhar Reddy, Assistant Professor, Department of Education welcomed everyone. Dr. Jasmine Joseph, Assistant Professor, Government College of Engineering, Kannur, expounded on ‘Promotion of Health Through an Active Life Culture’. The session was informative, comprehensive and specific. Dr. Jasmine scientifically presented the cultures across the world and systematically elucidated the impact of culture on wellbeing.
The role of economics, investment and infrastructure for enhancing life and culture was explained by substantiating with examples from research studies in India and abroad. The presentation was well accepted and acknowledged by all the dignitaries and participants. At the end of the session, the interaction was lively with several valuable comments and questions from participants.
The session was followed by the valedictory programme. The Chief Guest for the valedictory session was Prof. Gauri Mahulikar, Dean of Faculty, Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth. In her comprehensive valedictory speech, Prof. Mahulikar shared holistic and thought-provoking ideas about health and wellbeing. She called for teachers, parents and students to take up the positives from our surroundings if they are compatible with our culture, belief and lifestyle.
In her concluding remarks, Dr. Leela Ramamoorthy, Academic Coordinator for the Integrated Teacher Education Programme, while critically appraising the existing school curriculum stressed the need for revising the curriculum to integrate health education and physical education. She opined that this webinar could serve as the starting point for extensive deliberation.
The webinar ended with a Vote of Thanks by Dr. Bindu.
