Counsel India, India’s Psychology and Counselling EdTech company and Medhavi Skill University have joined forces to introduce Pragati 2024, a joint initiative that aims to shape the future of skill development. According to an official statement, the grand event was held at the Hotel Holiday Inn and attended by many guests and industry leaders. The ceremony began with the lighting of a ceremonial lamp, signifying the enlightenment that Pragati 2024 hopes to bring to the education and skill development landscape.
During the impactful inaugural ceremony, Counsel India’s Co-founder & CEO said:
The collective efforts of over 350 dedicated individuals within Counsel India, turning challenges into opportunities and delivering exemplary services the past seven years of expertise have resulted in forming a community of 150,000 learners across various countries, transforming the organization’s vision into reality through practical knowledge.
Mental health is grossly neglected and overlooked by most people. But how could things change for the better? The same curiosity drove founders Shivam Dixit and Bobby Thakur to start Counsel India as a non-profit in 2016. In its initial stages, Counsel India visited 100+ villages, government schools, detention facilities, juvenile homes, and orphanages to spread awareness about the importance of mental health and provide counselling services. Soon, they realized there was much to work on and fix in this field. The subject’s taboo had to be broken. The difficulties outnumber the persons who could assist with them. As a result, they took the opportunity to take charge.
In his virtual keynote address, Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO of the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) and managing director of NSDC International, emphasized the imperative shift towards skill development in education. Congratulating MSU and Counsel India on their partnership, he underscored the need for education to align with the dynamic changes in workplaces, as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Tiwari highlighted a pivotal projection from an NSDC study, indicating that by 2047, every fourth global workplace participant will be from India during the transformative ‘Amrit kaal’ period. This aligns to contribute to global national productivity significantly. With 45% of international participants now in India, He also stressed the crucial role of counsellors in guiding students to recognize and refine their skills for local and global opportunities.
Kuldip Sarma, Co-founder and pro-chancellor of Medhavi Skill University, added:
In launching this model, our collaboration with industry giants such as Aditya Birla, Apollo, ITC, Crowne Plaza, TATA, and more has been crucial. We commend Counsel India for its dedicated work in guiding, counselling, and psychology within this sector. Their structured approach contributes to national building, transcending the scale of institutions. Over the 11-year journey of Medhavi, we’ve been fortunate to have mentors, and we express gratitude for their guidance and support.
The event featured Robin Hibu, IPS, Special Commissioner of Police, Delhi Armed Police, who shared his valuable insights and secret mantra to keep this body fit. He further shared the journey of his life and the struggle he faces, but even today, not taking a single pill brings enthusiasm into young blood and encourages them to stay fit.
Devender K Saini, the Chief Strategic Advisor of Counsel India, points out that the current mental health landscape is at a critical juncture. He justified his statement by stating a survey by the Indian Psychiatry Society revealed a 20 per cent increase in poor mental health since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, he mentioned that The World Health Organization estimates India’s economic loss due to mental health disorders at $1.03 trillion.
Counsel India aims to help people become stronger and healthier emotionally by training counsellors at a large scale and offering access to personal counselling through its Global Network of Counsellors and Psychologists. The platform strives to provide quality programmes and courses in psychology and counselling skills via the most affordable and accessible technology. Its vision is to offer simplified emotional well-being and happiness to organizations and individuals worldwide at scale and speed.
