In 1985, Hope Foundation, under the leadership of Major S. K. Lamba, launched one of India’s first School Health Programs, at a time when there was virtually no institutionalised system of annual health monitoring for school children. This was just five years after the Alma Ata Declaration on Primary Health Care, and well before any official government initiative took root in schools.

The Foundation’s model—featuring individual Health-Books for each child, regular checkups, and preventive care—has served as a pioneering template for child wellness in urban schools, sustained for nearly four decades.

The Proposal to the Municipal Commissioner

Encouraged by UNICEF, Major Lamba was advised to share this working model with Ward Health Officers of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai. The intent was to help strengthen government schemes such as:

• RBSK – Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram
• SHWP – School Health and Wellness Programme
• Aapli Chikitsa – the Municipal Corporation’s public health outreach

In October 2023, Hope Foundation formally submitted a comprehensive proposal to the Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai, suggesting a pilot collaboration across selected schools to integrate these government schemes with Hope Foundation’s field-tested model.

Silence from the Authorities

Despite the promise and potential of this initiative, there was no response from the Municipal Commissioner’s office.

• No acknowledgment of the proposal
• No meeting granted, despite multiple follow-up requests
• The only communication received: “The Commissioner is busy and the proposal is pending.”

A Missed Opportunity

This silence is disheartening—not just for the Hope Foundation, but for the thousands of schoolchildren who could have benefitted from a tried-and-tested child health initiative. If the government is truly serious about the RBSK and SHWP, then such proposals deserve timely evaluation and engagement.

“We remain hopeful that one day, someone in authority will recognise the value of this collaboration and act in the true spirit of public service.”

– Major S. K. Lamba