Happiness classes helped reduce number of suicides among school children, says Kejriwal

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 'Happiness Utsav', the Delhi CM said, "Students face peer pressure as they are very conscious about what other students and friends think about them."

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Shivani Verma, better known as Brahma Kumari or Sister Shivani, during the closing ceremony of Delhi government's 'Happiness Utsav', at Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi. (Photo source: PTI Photo)

The Delhi government’s Happiness Curriculum has reduced the number of suicides in the capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed in an address to students and teachers Friday.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the ‘Happiness Utsav’, organised to mark four years since the introduction of this flagship programme in Delhi government schools, the CM said, “In today’s time, students face immense pressure, especially academic pressure. Parents also pressure them if their results are not up to the mark. They even compare their performance with other students. This has resulted in suicides at such a young age. Happiness classes changed that…” he said.

He also stated that the programme has helped students deal with peer pressure and problems at home.

Story continues below this ad

“Students face peer pressure as they are very conscious about what other students and friends think about them.

Sometimes, this peer pressure forces them to commit suicide. Thirdly, there is a lot of family pressure on children.

Many of our students come from families with a lot of problems. I was listening to a girl named Upeksha, a 13-year-old girl from class VIII. Her father is a plumber and her mother is bedridden. She has four siblings. The entire responsibility of the housework is on her…. Such students face so many issues, and happiness classes help eliminate this stress. We have seen that suicides are committed across the country. I am thankful to God that such incidents don’t take place in Delhi and a big part of that is because these classes have strengthened the mental balance of the children,” he said.

Newsletter | Click to get the day’s best explainers in your inbox

Story continues below this ad

As part of the ceremony, a meditation session with a teacher from the Brahma Kumaris organisation was conducted.

The ceremony was attended by 170 teachers and officials from Punjab government schools.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Taboola...

Premji said that Wipro would partner with the Government "to find a lasting solution for Bengaluru's mobility challenges".

Wipro rejects Karnataka Govt request to allow public vehicles inside Sarjapur campus

Cities4 hr ago

Wipro, a leading company in Bengaluru, has refused to allow public vehicles inside its Sarjapur campus to ease traffic congestion. However, they have agreed to finance a study to find a solution for the traffic problem. The founder, Azim Premji, believes that the issue is complex and requires expert analysis. Wipro has also committed to funding a significant portion of the study's cost.

View all shorts

Live Blog