The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCC&I) as the CSR implanting partner of Exide Industries Limited jointly organized a training workshop on "Inclusive Education and Mental Wellness in School Education". This initiative was also supported by Early Childhood Association (ECA). The session took place on 13th September 2024 at The Bengal Chamber premises. The initiative aimed to focus on inclusive education in schools and promote positive mental health for future generations.

The programme began with a welcome address by Ms. Sukanya Bose, Director of BCC&I, followed by a theme address from Mr. Nishant Sinha, Head CSR of Exide Industries Ltd., and a special address by Ms. Suman Sood, Director & Principal, B.D. Memorial Jr. School; Advisor, BDM International & IVWS ; National Core Committee Member, Early Childhood Association. After that, Dr. Soumitra Dutta, Senior Consultant Paediatrician, set the tone for the programme. Followed by the felicitation of distinguished guests, the main session featured a series of case discussions on the implementation of inclusive education and childhood mental health strategies. These discussions included insights from leading experts such as Dr. Soumitra Dutta, Senior Consultant Paediatrician; Dr. Abir Mukherjee, Consultant Psychiatrist; Dr. Susmita Halder, Associate Professor of Psychology at St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata; Ms. Lipika Bhattacharya, Special Educator; Ms. Ishitha Mohanka, Principal and Owner of a Pre-Primary School Chain; and Ms. Seema Sapru, Principal of The Heritage School.

The key topics addressed included the role of educators in fostering resilience and promoting non-judgmental listening, the challenges of working with non-compliant parents, and the legal and ethical responsibilities involved in reporting and handling cases of abuse under the POSCO Act. Also the session highlighted the importance of primary prevention in schools through education on boundaries and the concepts of good or bad touch, as well as the significance of empathetic communication in supporting children's emotional health. A total of 37 schools participated comprising of Principals, Decision Makers and senior teachers participated in this training session. 

This initiative marked a significant step towards creating a more supportive, inclusive, and mentally healthy educational environment for children. The session concluded with closing remarks by Ms. Sukanya Bose, reaffirming BCC&I’s commitment to mental wellness in education.