Nada India Foundation News update

 Suneel Vatsyayan showed how blending NADA Ear acupuncture protoco l, yoga, naturopathy , and reflexology with social work values can break healthcare barriers—helping drug users, youth, and at-risk groups seek care, stay engaged, and build trust. IRINJALAKUDA, AUGUST 22, 2025: As part of the 6th National Social Work Week , the PG and Research Department of Social Work at Christ College (Autonomous), Irinjalakuda, in collaboration with the National Association of Professional Social Workers in India ( NAPSWI ) , hosted a significant webinar on August 21, 2025. The session, “A Talk on Transdisciplinary Approach to Health and Wellbeing,” highlighted the urgent need for collaboration across disciplines to address complex health challenges. Transdisciplinary Collaboration: A Keynote Perspective Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Suneel Vatsyayan , Chairperson of Nada India Foundation, drew attention to the interconnected nature of health and wellbeing . He argued that wellbein...

"Non-communicable diseases stay with you, often silently — they are static. But the lifestyle that shapes them is anything but silent; it's communicable, influencing the people and environment around you every day." — Suneel Vatsyayan , Life Coach ,Strategist and National Executive Member NAPSWI June was a month of reflection, action, and awakening for social work practitioners across the country. With three significant international days – World No Tobacco Day (May 31), World Environment Day (June 5), and International Day of Yoga (June 21) – aligning  closely with Mental Health Month, the intersections between health, environment, and  social well-being came into sharp focus. For those working at the grassroots level, these  observances were not mere commemorations, but reminders of the deeply interconnected  risk factors that underpin Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) – primarily tobacco use,  harmful use of alcohol, drug abuse, physical inactivity, unhe...

With strong backing from the Young India Network for Good Health, youth-led Community Action Teams (CATs ) from Faridabad, Jamshedpur, Kurukshetra, Shimla, and Delhi NCR have consistently supported stronger measures to protect young people from tobacco imagery. By Nada India Foundation Team On June 9, 2025 , the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) hosted its final stakeholder consultation on the draft rules regulating tobacco depiction on Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms. The session brought together representatives from public health institutions, civil society, industry bodies, and key government ministries, including the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) . Among the strong advocates for youth and health at the table was Suneel Vatsyayan , Chairperson of Nada India Foundation , who shared insights from consultations with over 10,000 young people across Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana . Young India Speaks Up During the consultation, Mr. Vatsyayan pre...

On  World Social Work Day 2025 , we reaffirm our commitment to  creating a safe, healthy, and empowering campus where well-being is the foundation of education Nada India Foundation extends heartfelt gratitude to Prof. Manju Panwar, Head of the Department of Social Work at BPSMV Sonipat, Haryana , and the esteemed faculty members for organizing an impactful Orientation Workshop on Drug Prevention on March 19, 2025 . This event served as a vital platform to engage students and stakeholders in meaningful discussions on the pressing issue of substance use prevention. Acknowledging Peer-Led Drug Prevention Efforts We deeply appreciate the recognition of Nada India Foundation and Ankush Foundation for their sustained efforts in mobilizing a peer-led drug rehabilitation center network . Over decades, Nada India, in collaboration with Vidya Lead Academy , has worked towards developing and implementing a peer-based model for drug and NCD prevention . This approach has empowered indi...

Suneel Vatsyayan,  MSW ,NADA ,ADS Chairperson, Nada India Foundation vsuneel@gmail.com   Ph.9810258071 23/08/2024 To, The Honorable Members of the National Task Force, Dr. Goverdhan Dutt Puri, The Executive Director All India Institute of Medical Sciences,   Jodhpur, Rajasthan   Dear Members of the National Task Force, Subject: Support for the Supreme Court's Initiative on Grief and Crisis Counseling and Safety Measures for Medical Professionals On behalf of the Nada Young India Network for Good Health, I wish to commend the Supreme Court for recognizing the critical importance of addressing grief and crises as a fundamental aspect of ensuring the well-being of medical professionals. We believe that acknowledging and connecting through our shared human experiences is essential in fostering a compassionate and supportive environment within our healthcare system. At Nada India, we have long been advocates for emotional connection as a powerful tool in crisis inter...

  In a promising turn of events, the hashtag #SchoolSocialWorkers is gaining momentum under the banner of #NEP2020, underscoring the essential role of social work in education. School Social work has long been a cornerstone of academic institutions, with the Matru Seva Institute of Social Work in Nagpur leading the way for years. Now, this vital initiative is receiving the recognition and support it truly deserves. On 21st August 2024, Mr. Suneel Vatsyayan, Life Coach ,governing  board member NAPSWI and Chairperson Nada India Foundation, was honored to be invited by Dr. Keshav Walke, the National Coordinator of NAPSWI (National Association of Professional Social Workers in India), to a well-organized state-level event in Maharashtra. This event, part of the 5th National Social Work Week (15th-21st August), was executed under Dr. Walke’s capable leadership. National Social Work Week, observed annually, serves as a platform for academic and professional interactions through var...

Revitalizing social defence as a sector within social work is essential for defending the profession and addressing its inherent stresses. This article explores how integrating innovative approaches such as Emotional CPR and ear acupressure, alongside advocating for comprehensive rehabilitation programs like SMILE, can empower social work educators and practitioners. By upholding the core values and principles of social work, these strategies ensure the profession remains robust, empathetic, and adaptive, capable of effectively meeting contemporary social challenges. The relevance and identity of social defence within the realm of social work have gradually diminished, relegating it to a mere chapter in social work education or morphing it into other forms. This shift has prompted a need to reconnect, empower, and revitalize the profession. It is essential to reinvigorate the discussion around social defence as a distinct sector, capable of defending the profession of social work and a...

Sajjid Z. Chinoy and P. Vaidyanathan Iyer recently engaged in a comprehensive discussion about the economic priorities for the new government, where Mr. Vatsyayan, an attendee, highlighted the importance of making health a national priority. The conversation focused on strategies to enhance healthcare infrastructure, promote innovation, and ensure equitable access for all citizens. Key Discussion Points: Economic Agenda and Healthcare Investments: Suneel Vatsyayan raised a crucial question about integrating good health into the national economic agenda. He stressed the need for sustainable investments in healthcare infrastructure, innovation, and access, especially in light of the socio-economic disparities worsened by the pandemic. Public vs. Private Investment: Vatsyayan noted the current trend of increasing reliance on private investment while reducing public funding in the welfare state. He questioned the type of consumer and labor force the nation aims to develop, emphasizing th...

Guidepoints News from NADA  Jan/Feb 2015   Vatsyayan writes, “Utilizing theories of human behavior and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work. Acupuncture and all  Qi-flow therapies ‘help the body help itself.’ And this is also the goal  of social work.” Book Review : Social Work Education and Practice Engagement , edited by Sanjai Bhatt and Suresh Pathare Social worker and Nada India Foundation (NIF) chairperson, Suneel Vatsyayan , is a contributing author to a new volume on social work in India which has just been published by Shipra Publications. Vatsyayan’s chapter in this anthology considers the connection between social work and the NADA ear acupuncture treatment. Specifically, he describes how the NADA protocol s as an ideal social work intervention for drug and alcohol addiction. Vatsyayan trained first at ...

Watch this important discussion on World Drug Day as part of the Think Change Forum’s ongoing consultation programme on “Ideas for an Addiction Free India”. #TobaccoFreeYouth #worlddrugday Panelists: 1. Mr Suneel Vatsyayan - Chairperson - Nada India Foundation 2. Dr Pallavi Rao Chaturvedi Parenting Coach, educator, author and founder of Get Set Parent 3. Mr Kalyan Chatterjee - Educationist & Author 4. Mr Nalini Ranjan Mohanty -Director, Jagran Institute of Management & Mass Communication 5. Dr Sudheendra Huddar - Senior Consultant Psychiatrist - TeleMANAS, Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences 6. Ms Anju Krish - Founder &CEO UnTaboo -: A Safety & Sex Ed Company Moderator - Mr Gaurav Chaudhary - Co Founder and CEO Earshot Media Courtesy: Think Change Forum

This article comes from Guidepoints News from NADA  Spring 2021  Issue.  Suneel Vatsyayan:  Year 2020 is important for Nada India for two reasons. First, this was the year Nada India completed 20 years of its existence. It was Dr. Michael O. Smith who introduced me to the word nada, a Spanish word meaning nothing. In Hindi, nada means primordial sound. During his numerous visits to India, we discussed how a patient is smarter than a therapist, and a virus is smarter than the vaccine, and students are smarter than the teacher – they all change faster than our interventions. This causes a gap and increases the service barriers. Thus, the policy and program focus needs to shift from disease control and management to primordial prevention and wellbeing. And so, Dr. Smith invited me to set up Nada India Foundation to promote barrier-free drug rehabilitation services and community wellness for behavioral health. Secondly, 2020 was the year of the Covid-19 pandemic that hel...