Dated: 07 October 2026; Time: 1500 hrs; NEW DELHI

The NDRF Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aditya Birla Education Trust (ABET), to launch ‘Project-Nirmal’—a dedicated Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) initiative for NDRF personnel and their families across the Nation.

Recognizing the intense stress, physical demands, and sudden deployments faced by NDRF's rescuers during disasters, this institutionalized partnership aims to manage occupational stress and eliminate the stigma around mental health.

‘Project-Nirmal’ offers a comprehensive care continuum, encompassing mental health awareness sessions, routine psychological screening, individual and group counselling, tele-counselling, crisis intervention, suicide prevention and support.

To ensure Pan-India coverage, hub-based teams will be set up in key regional centers. Additionally, a dedicated 24/7 multi-lingual helpline operated by mental health experts will also provide round-the-clock guidance to personnel and their family members.

Smt. Priti Anand , President, NWWA and Mrs. Neerja Birla (Founder & Chairperson, ABET) emphasized that prioritizing the emotional well-being of rescuers and their families is essential for maintaining morale, readiness, and overall response effectiveness of the force.

Mrs Birla further added, through project Nirmal, ABET is taking a pioneering step with NWWA to extend structured mental health support to NDRF Rescuers and their families. This partnership marks the beginning of a Pan-India vision for ABET to work towards systematically institutionalizing mental health care and building integrated mental health support systems for those who serve and protect the citizens during disasters in the country.