Annantaa, a mental health and wellness organisation dedicated to promoting psychological well-being through awareness programmes, counselling services, therapeutic interventions and community engagement initiatives, has been working towards creating greater awareness around emotional well-being, mental health and holistic development. Founded by Ms. Madhuri Sarda, Counselling Psychologist and Clinical Hypnotherapist, with Ms. Vidhi Bansal, Co-Founder and Psychotherapist, Annantaa, the organisation has undertaken initiatives that bring mental health awareness and professional guidance into community and educational spaces.
Recognising the important role that schools and educators play in a child’s early development, Annantaa has been engaging with educational institutions to encourage greater awareness around children’s emotional, behavioural, developmental and learning needs. Its school-focused initiatives aim to create greater understanding among educators and parents, enabling them to recognise early indicators, approach concerns sensitively and seek appropriate professional support when required.
As part of this continued focus on child development and educational awareness, on 29th September, Annantaa organised “Early Insights, Brighter Futures: A Session on Psychometric Assessments in a Child’s Growth”, an awareness-focused interactive session that brought together psychologists and school leaders to discuss the importance of understanding children beyond academic performance. The session brought together Ms. Deboleena Biswas Nag, Director, Cambridge Montessori Preschool and Daycare, Newtown, and Ms. Rituparna Kolay, Principal & Owner, EuroKids Preschool Ballygunge and Cocoon Daycare & Activity Centre, Ballygunge, who shared their observations from working closely with young learners and educational environments.
The need for early awareness was underscored by significant global and Indian figures. According to UNICEF, nearly 240 million children worldwide, or 1 in 10, were living with a disability, while the WHO estimated that approximately 1 in 100 children globally had autism. In India, Census 2011 recorded 2,042,887 children aged 0–6 years with disabilities, including 132,405 in West Bengal, representing 6.48% of India’s disabled children in that age group. West Bengal had also recorded 2,017,406 persons with disabilities overall, of whom children aged 0–6 accounted for 6.56%.
The Kolkata-specific evidence further highlighted the relevance of early awareness among educators. A 2017 school-based study published in Autism Research, covering 11,849 children across three Kolkata boroughs, recorded a 3.54% weighted estimate of children screening above the threshold for autistic symptoms, while the weighted estimate for the broader autism spectrum was 0.23% following subsequent assessment. The researchers noted that this was a lower-bound estimate, particularly as many children remained outside the school system. Separately, an Indian systematic review covering 6 studies and 8,133 children estimated an 8% pooled prevalence of specific learning disorders, reinforcing the need for informed observation, appropriate assessment and timely support.
Ms. Madhuri Sarda, Counselling Psychologist and Clinical Hypnotherapist; Founder of Annantaa, said, “Every child has a unique way of learning, communicating and responding to the world around them. Early assessment was not about putting a label on a child; it was about understanding their individual strengths and needs so that parents and educators could respond with greater awareness. When concerns were identified early and approached sensitively, it could help create the right support system for a child at the right stage.”
Ms. Atreyee Chandra, Clinical Psychologist and Academic Excellence Coordinator, Annantaa, explained, “Psychometric assessments could offer structured insights into different aspects of a child’s abilities, interests and learning patterns, but they need to be understood within the larger context of the child. Educators played an important role in recognising patterns over time, and their observations, combined with professional assessment where required, could help ensure that children received support that was appropriate to their individual needs.”
Through Early Insights, Brighter Futures, Annantaa highlighted the importance of understanding children early and responding to their individual learning and developmental needs with sensitivity. The session positioned age-appropriate professional assessment as a tool for understanding and support rather than labelling, while connecting early identification with NEP 2020’s emphasis on early identification, continuous support and inclusive education. Annantaa underscored the importance of collaboration among educators, parents and qualified professionals in ensuring that children received appropriate support at the right stage.
