In Telangana’s remote tribal block of Narnoor—where health awareness once struggled to enter homes and classrooms—a quiet revolution is taking shape. What began as an experiment is now being hailed as one of India’s most innovative school-based wellness models. Led by Rajarshi Shah, IAS (2017 batch), District Collector & DM, the district has introduced “Aarogya Patashala,” a transformative wellness-centric school programme that is rewriting how children learn, practise, and internalise healthy habits.
A Classroom That Teaches Life, Not Just Lessons
Unlike traditional health lectures that are forgotten soon after the bell rings, Aarogya Patashala turns every school day into a hands-on wellness experience. Each day carries a different theme:
●Health & Hygiene Monday
●Nutrition Tuesday
●Stress Management Wednesday
●Anti-Drug Thursday
●Seasonal Diseases Friday
●Personality Development Saturday
But the uniqueness lies in its “practice-first” philosophy. On Mondays, children line up near hand pumps chanting “20 seconds!” while scrubbing their hands with precision. On Nutrition Tuesdays, they discuss the value of millets, leafy vegetables, and locally grown foods. Stress Management Wednesdays introduce breathing exercises, laughter therapy, and even “silent circles” where students learn emotional regulation—an essential yet often ignored life skill.
Where Students Become Innovators
One of the most admired components is the Innovation Tank, where children identify real problems affecting their villages—anemia in girls, lack of dustbins, unsafe water practices—and brainstorm solutions. Instead of being passive learners, they become health problem-solvers, taking ownership of their environment. In many villages, students have designed homemade tippy-taps, managed waste segregation drives, and conducted anemia awareness skits.
A Movement That Has Outgrown the Classroom
The momentum does not end inside school walls. The monthly Aarogya Jatra turns villages into vibrant hubs of health awareness—complete with rallies, skits, quizzes, games, and demonstrations. Teachers, parents, ASHA workers, anganwadi staff, and local leaders participate, making it a community-driven festival of health.
The impact is becoming visible. Teachers report a dip in absenteeism. Parents say their children now insist on washing vegetables, using toilets properly, and demanding nutritious food. One mother from Aada village proudly shares, “My daughter now asks for sprouts every morning—earlier she would refuse to touch them.”
A Vision Rooted in Long-Term Change
For Collector Rajarshi Shah, Aarogya Patashala is not just a programme—it is a societal shift in the making.
“My dream is simple – to create a generation that grows up healthy, confident, and ready for life. Aarogya Patashala is our first step towards that future.”
By turning classrooms into wellness labs and students into ambassadors of health, Narnoor is showing the nation what true grassroots innovation can look like.
