A Journey from Low Self-esteem to High Self-worth: Importance of Holistic Education for Children from Marginalised Sections

Social inclusion is a process through which the marginalised sections of society are included in the mainstream of society. It is ironic that even in the 21st century, many sections of Indian society remain outside the mainstream. Factors such as poverty, ill health, homelessness and abuse are ubiquitous among marginalised children, who are also considered 'at risk' across both developed and developing nations. There is a crucial need for every child to be given the opportunity to be educated. Holistic education is influenced by the progressive educational movement (Dewey 2024, <i>Democracy and education</i>, pp. 1-400). It harmoniously develops and empowers all the given human potential (Ushuluddin et al., 2019, <i>Int J Lang Res Educ Stud</i>, 3, pp. 54-70). This social exclusion greatly affects the physical and mental health of these marginalised children. The present research article analyses a caselet and reviews literature to explain the problems encountered by marginalised children, with an emphasis on their social inclusion. The article discusses the concepts of social inclusion and exclusion in the context of mental health. It scrutinises various educational policies of the Indian government and accentuates the importance of holistic education as a key factor in improving the mental health and social well-being of marginalised children.