Faced with a troubling rise in aggression and violence among schoolchildren, Ahmedabad’s education authorities have turned to mindfulness as a solution. More than five lakh students across 1,800 schools have joined a citywide initiative that urges children to meditate daily — a movement aptly titled the ‘Billion Minutes of Peace Appeal Project.’

The initiative was launched by the Ahmedabad City District Education Officer (DEO) following a string of violent incidents in schools, including the shocking murder of a student at Seventh Day School in Maninagar over a trivial dispute. The tragedy, officials say, underscored a growing pattern of impulsive behaviour and emotional volatility among students.

A billion minutes for calm

As part of the project, students are dedicating 10 minutes every day to guided meditation sessions led by their teachers. The aim: to restore calm, nurture emotional intelligence, and reduce impulsive reactions that often lead to conflicts.

“The idea is to help children pause, reflect, and respond instead of reacting in anger,” a senior education officer said. The DEO’s circular to schools stresses that regular meditation can help students manage anger, anxiety, and social pressure, while countering the emotional strain linked to excessive screen time and academic stress.

Teachers have been trained to lead the sessions, fostering habits of mindfulness, empathy, and self-control among students.

Tracking change in classrooms

Schools have also been asked to monitor behavioural changes and report progress over time. Alongside meditation, teachers are conducting discussions on conflict resolution, emotional awareness, and respect for peers.

Officials believe the initiative will gradually transform school culture — from reactive and volatile to reflective and resilient.

“This is not a temporary fix,” an official noted. “We want to build a generation that knows how to handle emotions with awareness and compassion.”

The Billion Minutes of Peace project, they added, is as much about mental well-being as it is about redefining what education means — nurturing not only sharp minds, but also calm and balanced hearts.