As Air Quality Worsens, Global Scientist Urges Haryana to Lead with Mandatory Health Education for Children

US-based scientist Dr. Rahul Mehra, India’s National Representative for the UNESCO Chair in Global Health & Education, discusses the importance of school health education at a media workshop

With deteriorating air quality posing significant health risks to children across Northern India, the need for preventive health education is more critical than ever. Dr. Rahul Mehra, India’s National Representative for the UNESCO Chair in Global Health & Education, emphasized Haryana’s potential to lead in addressing this challenge by implementing mandatory health education in schools.

“I believe health education should be compulsory for children during their formative years, and our initial pilot results are promising,” said Dr. Mehra. At a media workshop in Chandigarh hosted by Tarang Health Alliance and Fijeeha, Dr. Mehra called for a statewide policy to make health education a priority in Haryana schools. “Children in Haryana deserve the same clean air as those in cities like Chicago, where AQI levels rarely exceed 50,” he said. “For youth here, facing daily pollution levels over 350 AQI, preventive health education is vital in reducing long-term health impacts and empowering informed choices.”

Dr. Navneet Anand, Director of Fijeeha, added, “Haryana’s success in sports shows that with the right policies, our children can excel. It’s time to apply this model to health education.”

Dr. Mehra, who owns over 70 patents and has contributed more than 100 scientific publications, explained the value of preventive health education, noting that it helps children adopt healthy behaviors and reduces future healthcare burdens. Tarang Health Alliance, under Dr. Mehra’s leadership, is launching a pilot program in partnership with the Haryana government across 12 government and 18 private schools in NCR, Chandigarh, and Jaipur.

This program teaches critical health skills, including nutrition, hygiene, stress management, and healthy relationships, aligning with the state’s welfare initiatives led by Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini. "Our early results show students are gaining a greater understanding of health and making healthier choices," said Dr. Mehra.

UNICEF data underscores the need for intervention, showing that children in polluted environments can suffer a 20% reduction in lung capacity, akin to long-term second-hand smoke exposure. "Our goal is for health education to become a core subject, mandatory for classes VI to VIII," said Dr. Mehra.

In alignment with India’s National Education Policy, which promotes “Swachh Bharat, Swasth Bharat” (Clean India, Healthy India), the program aims to nurture children’s overall well-being. Tarang Health Alliance plans to expand the initiative nationally, with hopes that it will inspire other states to incorporate health education into their curricula. "If we prioritize preventive health education, we can ensure the next generation is healthier and better equipped to contribute to a developed India,” concluded Dr. Mehra.