A Baal Darpan programme · every week, every age
Seva aurSuraksha
सेवा और सुरक्षा
First aid, safety and service, taught every week to every child and young person, in Hindi and English, at each age, and passed on by the older to the younger.
Why in a school day
The first minutes belong to whoever is nearest
After a fall, a burn, a fire or a flood, the nearest person is often a child or a young adult. Baal Darpan already rings a daily bell in every class it reaches. Seva aur Suraksha adds one lesson a week to that bell, at every age, and turns knowing into helping.
A lesson every week
One short lesson a week inside the daily bell, with a picture, a story and one thing to practise.
Hindi and English
Every lesson in both languages, in the plain words a child of that age uses.
The older teach the younger
Senior students teach what they have learnt to a junior class, with a teacher present.
One ladder, every age
What each age would learn
The age levels are Baal Darpan’s batches. Every lesson cites public guidance; we welcome review by qualified first-aid trainers.
| Age level | Seva: service | Suraksha: safety | First aid: topics |
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| Mitra and Raviमित्र और रविPlay school to Class 1 |
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| Surya and Bhanuसूर्य और भानुClasses 2 to 5 |
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| KhagaखगClasses 6 to 8 |
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| Pushanपूषन्Classes 9 and 10 |
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| Hiranyagarbhaहिरण्यगर्भClasses 11 and 12 |
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| MarichiमरीचिYoung aspirants, 18 and over |
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Topics only. Each first-aid or safety lesson follows cited public guidance, such as the Indian First Aid Manual (2016, 7th edition, in English and Hindi) of the Indian Red Cross Society, and names no medicine.
Manas Kendra · mind and wellbeing
Morning calm and feelings weather
Safety starts inside. Each day can begin with a minute of slow breathing, and with a child naming the weather inside them, with no marks and no judgement. Try both here.
One minute, the whole class together.
How is the weather inside you today?
Tap one. Nothing you tap is stored or sent anywhere.
Every kind of weather is allowed here.
Teach-back
Aerial roots: learners who teach
A banyan’s aerial roots reach the ground and become new trunks. Seva aur Suraksha grows the same way: what a senior student learns well, a junior class hears next.
Learn
Students of Classes 11 and 12 learn a lesson, with a trained first-aider present where possible.
Practise
They practise it with each other until each of them can explain it simply.
Teach
They teach it to a younger class in the daily bell, with a teacher present, and write down what the children asked.
Beyond our lessons
A lesson builds awareness; training builds skill
A weekly lesson is not a first-aid qualification. For hands-on training, learners are pointed to recognised programmes, such as those of the Indian Red Cross Society, constituted under the Indian Red Cross Society Act, 1920, and working through over 1,100 branches.
Shared values
The seven Fundamental Principles, and our practice
The seven principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in its own words, beside the value each one finds in Darpan Vidyadhaam.
| Principle | In the Movement’s words | In Darpan Vidyadhaam |
|---|---|---|
| 1Humanity | to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found | Every Seva lesson teaches a child to help. The whole Vidyadhaam is free, so no learner is turned away. |
| 2Impartiality | no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions | The same lessons for every child, in Hindi and English, with no paid tier and no favoured school. |
| 3Neutrality | may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature | Both sides, fairly: each issue is read through a Lens that puts every side in its strongest form, and children’s lessons stay clear of controversy. |
| 4Independence | must always maintain their autonomy | No ads and no sponsors shaping lessons. What is taught is decided by the evidence alone. |
| 5Voluntary service | not prompted in any manner by desire for gain | Free forever, never for gain. The Gyaan Seva hour is given, not paid. |
| 6Unity | It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory. | One school under the open sky: open to any child with a phone, in any State. |
| 7Universality | all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities | Every learner of equal standing: no ranks, and no marks in Meri Raah. |
Already running
Twelve lessons, live on Baal Darpan
Twelve weekly Seva aur Suraksha lessons already run on Baal Darpan. Each is drawn from cited public guidance (NHS, WHO, NDMA, IMD and the Indian Red Cross Society’s own pages), names no medicine and closes by encouraging the learner to take a proper first-aid course. Every lesson cites public guidance; we welcome review by qualified first-aid trainers.
A note on the emblem
This page uses no red cross symbol. Under Section 12 of the Geneva Conventions Act, 1960, the emblem may not be used for any purpose without the approval of the Government of India.
Sources for this page
- The Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement IFRC
- The seven Fundamental Principles Indian Red Cross Society
- Governance: the IRCS Act, 1920; the President of India as President; the Union Health Minister as Chairperson Indian Red Cross Society
- Indian Red Cross Society: over 1,100 branches indianredcross.org
- Standard First Aid Training Programme (16 hours); Indian First Aid Manual 2016, 7th edition, English and Hindi Indian Red Cross Society
- Junior Red Cross (schools) and Youth Red Cross (colleges) Indian Red Cross Society, Karnataka State Branch
- Tele-MANAS: 24x7 helpline 14416, launched 10 October 2022 Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Red Cross emblem: Section 12 of the Geneva Conventions Act, 1960 District Administration, Palwal (Government of Haryana)
- Baal Darpan batches: upscdarpan.in/baal/