Why Project Mansetu — The Urgent Need

India is home to over 270 million people living below the poverty line. Behind that statistic are real families — children growing up in cycles of violence, adults trapped in addiction, parents unaware of schemes designed to help them, and communities where despair is passed from one generation to the next. Project Mansetu exists to break that cycle.

33%

of Indian households affected by some form of domestic violence (NFHS-5)

67%

of eligible families never access government welfare schemes they are entitled to

14.6%

of Indians use harmful substances regularly — rising sharply in low-income urban communities

1 in 3

children in disadvantaged communities drop out before completing secondary education

Project Mansetu is a intensive community transformation programme by Hooak Trusts, designed to empower 30 underprivileged families (250 beneficiaries) through structured weekly mentoring, skills development, government scheme facilitation, and health guidance.

The name 'Mansetu' reflects our mission: building a bridge (setu) through the mind (man) — connecting families from their current reality to a life of dignity, resilience, and opportunity.

PROGRAMME PILLARS| Paths to Transformation

1. Mindset & Resilience

Emotional regulation, goal-setting, stress management, and building protective behaviours against substance use and family violence through structured mentoring sessions.

2. Modern Skills

Digital literacy, financial awareness, communication skills, and livelihood tools relevant to today's economy — practical training sessions that build employability and independence.

3. Government Schemes

Guided enrollment into PM Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, ration cards, MGNREGA, scholarships, and other central/state entitlements that families are eligible for but unaware of.

4. Health Guidance

Nutrition education, maternal & child health support, mental wellness, addiction referrals, and linkage with healthcare services and health camps.

This document outlines the research methodology and intervention plan for the "MANOBAL – Mental Health Strengthening Program 2026". The program aims to empower women, children, and youth with mental health tools through a structured intervention  This methodology details the approach to achieve the project objectives and measure its impact.

Problem Statement

 Adolescents experience emotional or behavioural concerns. Domestic Violence, Addiction, Academic stress, Peer pressure, Digital overuse, and lack of structured mental health education significantly impact crime, violence,  productivity and learning outcomes in the community. 

Recent survey trends and school observations in Gujarat indicate:

• Rising academic stress & exam anxiety

• Increase in digital addiction & attention issues

• Exposure to domestic conflict and substance influence

• Lack of structured emotional education in government schools

• Teachers untrained in identifying early mental health concerns

Studies suggest nearly 15%–20% adolescents experience emotional or behavioural difficulties, yet structured preventive mental health programs remain limited in semi-urban government institutions.

Without early intervention, these challenges lead to:

• Reduced productivity

• Drop in academic performance

• Negative habits

• Aggressive behaviour

Family instability

Project Objectives

1. Provide structured mental health education to beneficiaries

2. Improve emotional regulation and stress management skills

3. Enhance concentration and productivity in students

4. Reduce unhealthy coping behaviours

5. Equip teachers to identify early warning signs

6. Strengthen women’s emotional well-being in SHG groups

7. Create peaceful and supportive family environments

The Challenge

In today’s corporate landscape, employee well-being remains a growing concern. Studies indicate that over 80% of Indian employees experience work-related stress, while nearly 50% report symptoms of burnout and anxiety.

Despite increased investment in wellness initiatives, most organisations rely on one-time interventions. Research consistently shows that without ongoing reinforcement, behavioural change is not sustained — leading to continued stress, communication gaps, and reduced productivity.

The InnerShift Approach

InnerShift is designed to address this gap through continuous, structured engagement.

By combining regular sessions with practical tools for self-awareness, rational thinking, and emotional resilience, the programme enables employees to build lasting habits over time.

The result is a measurable shift in mindset and behaviour — supporting improved well-being, stronger collaboration, and consistent performance across teams.