The “Study of Mental Health Status among School Students (Delhi NCR)”, commissioned by The Hans Foundation (THF) and conducted by scholars from the University of Delhi and University of Nottingham, offers a comprehensive, data-driven evaluation of the mental health landscape in 6 schools served by Hans Wellness Centres (HWC). Drawing on responses from 400 students—half of whom received individual counselling—the study employed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to categorize mental health outcomes.

Findings revealed that 35% of students in the intervention group were still classified as “abnormal,” compared to 23.5% in the non-intervention group, while “normal” status was reported by 41% of intervention students versus 53% of non-intervention students—suggesting challenges in supporting students with severe needs.

Despite these gaps, the effectiveness of interventions was widely acknowledged: 46.5% of students rated HWC services as highly efficient, and 33.5% considered them moderately so. Trust in psychologists was strong, with 56% of students expressing high confidence, and over 70% were satisfied with the counselling services. However, concerns emerged regarding language barriers (English-only counselling), stigma, and lack of engaging activities. More than half (56.5%) perceived moderate to high improvement in academics post-counselling. Preferences indicated the need for flexible session timings and more interactive formats. Peer support, physical activity, and open family communication were seen as protective mental health factors, while academic pressure and fear of punishment remained key stressors.

The comprehensive study titled “Hypertension Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Management Strategies in MMU Intervention Areas of Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand”, commissioned by The Hans Foundation (THF) and conducted by Integra Ventures, offers significant statistical insights into how THF’s Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) are supporting hypertension care in rural India. Covering 418 hypertensive beneficiaries across Kangra and Udham Singh Nagar districts, the research explores demographic patterns, risk factors, healthcare practices, and the effectiveness of MMU interventions.

A striking 67% of the sample comprised women, and 66% were over the age of 60, indicating that elderly rural women are the major users of MMU services for hypertension. Notably, 29% of respondents had a family history of hypertension, and 35% had comorbidities, especially diabetes (50%) and cholesterol issues (15%). In terms of service utilization, 55% of patients visited the MMU every 15 days, and 90% considered MMUs their primary healthcare provider. Services most utilized were BP monitoring (28%), medication refill (27%), and counselling (25%). MMUs had a strong educational impact, with 98.8% of respondents affirming improved health knowledge and 99.7% observing changes in community health behavior.

Adherence to medication was relatively high, yet 8% still reported irregularity—primarily due to forgetfulness. Importantly, 80.6% experienced reduced out-of-pocket expenses. Satisfaction levels were overwhelmingly positive: 98.8% reported being satisfied or very satisfied, and 99.9% would recommend MMU services.

These results reinforce MMUs as an effective model for chronic disease management in underserved areas, though they also highlight the need for more lifestyle-related interventions and continuous awareness efforts.

The Rapid Assessment Study of the Hans Unnati Project, conducted across 8 schools in Delhi-NCR, presents critical statistical insights into the project’s impact on inclusive education. The average number of CwDs enrolled per school was 11.5, with individual school counts ranging from 1 to 22. Although all schools had made some physical upgrades, only 3 of 8 had fully functional accessible toilets, and just 1 school had ramps compliant with accessibility standards. Internal classroom ramps were absent in 7 schools, and 6 schools had only partially accessible playgrounds.

All eight schools had undergone infrastructure audits, yet only 4 reported having inclusion or accessibility plans in place. Assistive devices were reported available in all schools but were inadequate. While all schools had visual learning charts, only 5 had Braille/audio resources, 4 had specialized seating, and just 2 offered hearing aids or FM systems. In 4 schools, classrooms and libraries remained the most inaccessible areas for CwDs.

Training coverage for inclusive education was partial in all schools; none had trained 100% of teachers in the use of assistive tools. 6 of 8 schools reported receiving external support for accessibility, including from THF. However, 7 schools believed that their current infrastructure met the needs of CwDs only “to some extent.” Key barriers cited included lack of funds (4 schools), inadequate government support (3 schools), and limited technical know-how (3 schools).

The Hans Unnati Project has laid a strong foundation for inclusive education, fostering equity, awareness, and meaningful participation.

Forest fires pose a serious threat in India, with over 35,000 incidents annually affecting nearly 5,000 km² of forest cover. Uttarakhand, where 71% of the land is forested, has witnessed forest fires damaging over 48,000 hectares since 2000. In 2022, The Hans Foundation (THF) launched a one-year pilot project targeting 500 villages across five blocks in Tehri Garhwal and Pauri Garhwal districts. The program reported a remarkable 53.33% reduction in fire incidents and a 57.35% decrease in the total area affected—from 1,200 hectares in 2021 to 512 hectares in 2022. Over 1,000 community members were trained as volunteer firefighters, and 2,741 were selected for the next phase of the project. Nearly 75% of active volunteers were women, emphasizing gender-inclusive participation.

The Hans Foundation facilitated over 120 community awareness campaigns, including nukkad nataks, rallies, wall writings, and radio broadcasts, which significantly improved knowledge and practices around fire prevention. Community members adopted low-cost but effective strategies such as removing dry leaves, using “jhapas” (green branches), digging mud lines, and shifting to fire-resistant plant species. The revival of over 50 Van Panchayats further strengthened local forest governance.

Interviews revealed that prior to the intervention, fires often went unchecked. Post-intervention, fires were quickly controlled, and in some areas, incidents dropped to zero. The shift in attitude—from viewing fire control as the forest department’s duty to a shared community responsibility—was evident. This pilot by THF stands as a promising model for scalable, community-driven forest conservation across India.