CONTENTS

1. Mental Health Initiatives in India
2. e-SHRAM Portal

Mental Health Initiatives in India

Context:

Recently, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has shed light on the initiatives aimed at addressing mental health concerns in the country.

Relevance:

GS II: Health

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Highlighted Mental Health Initiatives in India

Highlighted Mental Health Initiatives in India:

National Mental Health Programme (NMHP):

• Initiated in 1982, restructured in 2003.
• Aims to modernize mental health facilities and upgrade psychiatric wings in medical institutions.
• District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) since 1996 focuses on community mental health services in 716 districts.
• Provides outpatient services, counselling, psycho-social interventions, and support for severe mental disorders at primary healthcare level.

National Tele Mental Health Programme:

• Launched in October 2022 to improve access to mental health counselling and care services.
• National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, coordinates Tele MANAS activities across India.
• 25 States/UTs have established 36 Tele Mental Health and Normalcy Augmentation Systems (MANAS) Cells.
• Handled a total of 63,806 calls on the helpline number.

NIMHANS and iGOT-Diksha Collaboration:

• NIMHANS provides psychosocial support and training through the iGOT-Diksha platform.
• Online training for health workers conducted on the iGOT-Diksha platform.

Ayushman Bharat – HWC Scheme:

• Part of the Ayushman Bharat Programme.
• Aims to provide a wide range of services, including preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care.
• Operational guidelines on Mental, Neurological, and substance use disorders (MNS) at Health and Wellness Centres (HWC) under Ayushman Bharat.

Addressing Pandemic-Induced Mental Health Challenges:

• Establishment of a 24/7 helpline for psychosocial support.
• Issuance of guidelines and advisories for various societal groups.
• Advocacy through diverse media platforms to manage stress and anxiety.

Financial Support for Mental Health Institutions:

• District Mental Health Programme receives a fund allocation of Rs. 159.75 Crore for States/UTs under the National Health Mission for 2022-23.

e-SHRAM Portal

Context:

The Ministry of Labour & Employment has launched e-SHRAM portal, a National Database of the Unorganised Workers on 26th August, 2021.

Relevance:

GS II- Government policies and Interventions

About the E-Shram Portal

• With the help of the E-Shram Portal, the government aims to register 38 crore unorganized workers, such as construction labourers, migrant workforce, street vendors and domestic workers, among others.
• The workers will be issued an e-Shram card containing a 12-digit unique number, which, going ahead, will help in including them in social security schemes.
• The government had earlier missed deadlines for creating the database, inviting criticism from the Supreme Court.
• Targeted identification of the unorganized workers was a much-needed step and the portal which will be the national database of our nation builders will help take welfare schemes to their doorstep, who are the builders of our Nation.
• Targeted delivery and last mile delivery, has been a major focus of the schemes of government of India and the National Database of Unorganised workers (E-Shram portal) is another key step towards that.