The Mind Canvas is more than just art; it’s an initiative driven by the belief in the power of art to impact lives positively. Being a Mental health awareness and Advocacy platform, the initiative began as Poodles of Doodles in 2020 as a venture in the field of social welfare and empowerment. It traveled through the lanes of marginalized communities and impacted the lives of women and children through the hues of my brush strokes. Currently, Anvi is navigating a tumultuous landscape of GST categorisation of Mental Health Services and has filed a PIL after receiving both an unsatisfactory and contradicting response for an RTI seeking information on the same.
Join me to become a part of something truly special – a community that combines the joy of art with the fulfilment of giving back!
MOU : Praveen Prakash & Manish Verma
Partnered with the Andhra Pradesh Government and Diamond Toons (Chacha Chaudhary fame) to introduce 'Talking Comics' into the curriculum of PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) Schools. This collaboration with comic series titled ‘Exam War’ will build Mental Health awareness in students and educators. It is poised to improve learning outcomes by promoting positive behavioural changes, while engaging them through interactive storytelling.
Speaking at ComicCon
Participated at Comic Con International Delhi as one of the youngest and newest authors, presenting my debut comic, "The Exam War" in collaboration with Diamond Toons. Comic Con’s vision to encourage Indian authors to showcase their experiences and stories emerged as a learning experience. Interacted with fellow creators, enthusiasts and peers, to amplify conversations on demystification of mental health.
Capacity Building with Govt Schools
Had an insightful discussion with the students at Government Senior Secondary School, Chakkarpur, Haryana. Complimentary copies of 'Exam Wars' were handed out during the session, promoting the mantra, "It's okay not to be okay"
The impact of the project extendsto rolling out Capacity Building Modulesfor principals and educatorsin PM SHRI and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV)schools. The modules encourage the appointment of Mental Health Ambassadors within schools. This initiative hasinfluenced 6,000 PM SHRI schools in Andhra Pradesh and nearly 5,000 schools under Haryana SCERT"
Conversations with Kids
Young children visiting the stall, sharing their personal experiences and describing which characters they are or would be in comic. Meeting 150+ children was really energising, showcasing a collective willingness to learn and unlearn about their common traits in day-to-day lives. Creating an army of Mental Health Ambassadors Simultaneously, it reinforced the significance and power of creating relatable and nuanced narratives amid the hustle of life.
Advocating for Mental Health GST Reform
A Public Interest Litigation has been filed by Anvi to understand the government’s stance on appropriate categorisation of Mental Health Services in the GST framework. We previously filed an RTI seeking an explanation for the 18% GST imposed on mental health services. This tax rate, equivalent to that on luxury goods, raises serious concerns about accessibility to essential mental health care for those who need it most. Anvi received a letter from the National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, in response to the RTI application (dated 13th September 2024) regarding the GST categorisation of mental health services. An unsatisfactory response of ‘Institute does not have such information’ was tagged to critical questions.
Parents, Psychiatrists, & Educators at ComicCon
Psychologists, school librarians, and parents willing to understand a New Approach taken to engage with youngsters at Comic Con. They are so essential to create Safe Spaces for real discussions and fostering a deeper understanding of ourselves.
Felt encouraged as they purchased multiple copies for their students, and humbled by their invites to conduct sessions.
