Programme focuses on developing compassion, emotional resilience and ethical decision-making among school students
Shimla, June 8:
A three-day Capacity Building Workshop of the State Resource Group (SRG) under the SEE Learning (Social, Emotional and Ethical Learning) programme commenced on Monday at the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Co-operative Staff Training Institute, Sangti (Summer Hill), Shimla.
Organized under Samagra Shiksha, the residential workshop will continue till June 10 and aims to strengthen the implementation of the SEE Learning programme in Himachal Pradesh. Currently, the initiative is being implemented in 100 schools across Kangra and Hamirpur districts to promote emotional well-being, social responsibility and ethical values among students.
The workshop is being attended by State Resource Group members, including school teachers, officials from District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs), Samagra Shiksha coordinators and representatives of Piramal Foundation.
Among those present were SEE Learning State Coordinator Varsha Sood, coordinators Dr. Manjula Sharma, Pratibha Bali, Sonia Sharma and Anjana Bhardwaj, along with Piramal Foundation Senior Programme Director Zeeshan Hasan, Programme Manager Rajendra Thakur, Heena Kalra, Waseem Raja Bhatt and Rais Ahmad Sofi.
Speaking on the occasion, SEE Learning State Coordinator Varsha Sood said that the workshop, being conducted under the guidance of Samagra Shiksha Director Rajesh Sharma, is an important step towards strengthening the programme’s implementation across the state. She said participants would discuss trainer development, school-level activities, effective implementation strategies and the preparation of a future action plan.
She emphasized that the programme aims to nurture emotional resilience, social responsibility and ethical leadership among students, helping them become responsible and compassionate citizens.
Dr. Manjula Sharma highlighted the importance of teachers embracing the principles of SEE Learning themselves before effectively guiding students. She said the programme equips educators with the skills needed to support children facing stress, anxiety, fear and emotional challenges in a sensitive and constructive manner.
Addressing the workshop, Piramal Foundation Senior Programme Director Zeeshan Hasan said SEE Learning is designed not only to improve academic outcomes but also to cultivate resilience, compassion and ethical discernment among children. He noted that increasing mental health challenges and growing social and academic pressures make it essential for students to develop the ability to make informed decisions and cope with difficult situations.
Hasan explained that SEE Learning combines India’s contemplative traditions with modern scientific understanding. The programme includes key components such as attention and awareness, compassion, trauma and resilience-informed care, systems thinking and ethical decision-making.
He said compassion and empathy are learnable skills that can be developed through practice and education. The ultimate objective of SEE Learning is to create school environments that are empathetic, inclusive and rooted in strong ethical values.
During the workshop, SEE Learning State Programme Manager Rajendra Thakur also delivered a detailed presentation on the programme and its future roadmap in the state.
