New Delhi: The Illness to Wellness Foundation, in collaboration with the Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI), has launched a large-scale hand hygiene awareness initiative titled ‘Swasth Haath, Swasth Bachpan’ (Healthy Hands, Healthy Childhood). Supported by leading hygiene brand Savlon, the campaign is designed to inculcate regular handwashing habits among school students across the National Capital Region (NCR), aiming to promote wellness and reduce the risk of infections and illnesses.
The initiative is expected to reach over 40,000 students across 100 schools, significantly scaling up from last year’s outreach of 30,000 students in 35 schools. The campaign covers a diverse mix of private, public, and government-run institutions and emphasizes experience-based learning to ensure long-term behavioral change in hygiene practices.
Speaking about the campaign, Anil Rajput, Chairperson, Advisory Council, Illness to Wellness Foundation, said, “At the Illness to Wellness Foundation, we believe that building a healthy society begins with our children. Through the ‘Swasth Haath, Swasth Bachpan’ campaign, in collaboration with PEFI, we aim to equip thousands of young minds with simple yet powerful hygiene habits like regular handwashing. Schools are the ideal setting to cultivate such habits, and by reaching out to students across more than 100 institutions, we hope to inspire lifelong wellness practices. Engaging and interactive methods built into the campaign will ensure that the message stays with them long after it ends. We are not just spreading awareness; we are also encouraging lasting behavioral change that will create a healthier generation and a truly Swasth Bharat.”
The inaugural session of the campaign was held on 6th September 2025 at Balvantray Mehta Vidya Bhawan, Greater Kailash – II, New Delhi, with the participation of over 300 students. The event featured expert-led demonstrations of WHO-recommended handwashing techniques, interactive quizzes, educational videos, and a fun selfie booth to keep students engaged.
Each participating student received a hygiene kit to reinforce the importance of daily hygiene routines. Volunteers from both the Illness to Wellness Foundation and PEFI facilitated smooth execution, student interaction, and on-ground logistics.
By using engaging formats such as games, expert talks, and fun demonstrations, the campaign aims to make hygiene education more relatable and impactful. The long-term goal is to embed good hand hygiene as a consistent, lifelong habit among children, thereby fostering healthier communities.
The Illness to Wellness Foundation, launched in 2014, has been at the forefront of promoting preventive health and holistic well-being by integrating modern science with traditional knowledge. The ‘Swasth Haath, Swasth Bachpan’ campaign is a key part of its broader vision of empowering communities with health education and fostering a truly “Swasth Bharat”.
