Kishori Mela on Adolescent Health, Education, and Mental Well-being – Swabhiman Samiti, Siddharthnagar
Introduction
Swabhiman Samiti, in collaboration with the Health Department, organized a Kishori Mela on 9 December 2025 at Uska Bazar, Siddharthnagar (U.P.), focusing on adolescent health, education, and mental well-being. The event aimed to create awareness among adolescent girls on critical issues affecting their physical and mental health, while also promoting education, hygiene, and life skills.
The program witnessed the participation of over 250 individuals, including adolescent girls, community members, and stakeholders, making it a large-scale and impactful community engagement initiative. It served as a comprehensive platform where participants could engage, learn, and interact with health professionals, contributing to their overall development and empowerment.
Participation
The event witnessed 250+ participants, including adolescent girls, parents, community members, and representatives from the health department, reflecting strong community involvement and interest.
Key Highlights
Objective:
To promote awareness on adolescent health, menstrual hygiene, mental well-being, and education, while empowering girls through knowledge, participation, and access to information and services.
Key Activities:
The program commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, marking the formal inauguration of the event. This was followed by guided visits to five thematic stalls, where participants received information and engaged in interactive activities related to health, hygiene, education, and well-being.
Health awareness sessions were conducted focusing on menstrual hygiene, adolescent health risks, and preventive practices. Discussions also included mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, and the impact of excessive mobile usage.
Participants were informed about available government support systems, including helpline services for mental health counseling, and were encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyle practices.
Key Attendees:
• Dr. S.K. Patel, Medical Superintendent, CHC Uska Bazar
• Mr. Anant Prakash, DEIC Manager
• Dr. Vijay Kumar, Mental Health Specialist
• Mr. Ashok Kumar, Health Education Officer
• Mr. Manish Pandey, BPM
• Mrs. Mamta Verma, Chairperson, Swabhiman Samiti
• Mr. Vinod Prajapati, Secretary, Swabhiman Samiti
• Ms. Priyanka, Ms. Zarina, Mr. Bavi Kumar, Mr. Deepak
• Program Moderator: Ms. Sambhavati
Impact
The Kishori Mela significantly enhanced awareness among adolescent girls regarding menstrual hygiene, mental health, and overall well-being. Participants gained practical knowledge about safe hygiene practices and the risks associated with poor menstrual care, including infections and long-term health complications.
The sessions on mental health helped reduce stigma and encouraged open discussions on stress, anxiety, and emotional well-being. Information about the Government of India’s MANAS Helpline (14416) further strengthened access to support systems.
The event also reinforced the importance of education and community participation, while creating a supportive environment for adolescent girls to learn, express, and grow.
Conclusion
The Kishori Mela marked an important milestone in Swabhiman Samiti’s ongoing efforts to promote holistic development among adolescent girls. By integrating health, education, and mental well-being into a single platform, the program successfully created awareness and encouraged positive behavioral change.
Such initiatives contribute significantly to building informed, confident, and resilient young individuals, thereby strengthening the foundation of healthier communities.
