A Nationwide Push for Safer, Tobacco-Free Schools

The Ministry of Education and Health has urged states to implement laws banning tobacco use in schools to address the problem of tobacco use among young people. This initiative seeks to promote healthier environments in educational institutions and reduce tobacco use.1^✔ ✔Reliable source
Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issue joint recommendation to states and union territories for effective implementation of guidelines and manual for tobacco-free educational institutions

Go to the source

). The Secretaries of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have jointly issued an advisory to the Chief Secretaries of the States “for rigorous implementation of the Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) manual, in accordance with the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003” in educational institutions. This joint advisory underlines the Alarming effects of tobacco use, especially in children and adolescents.

The focus is on the findings of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) 2019, which revealed that 8.5 per cent of students aged 13-15 years in India use tobacco in various forms. Worryingly, more than 5,500 children in India have started using tobacco every day.

End tobacco

Furthermore, 55 per cent of regular tobacco smokers started the habit before the age of 20, and many adolescents turned to other addictive substances as a result. The recommendation highlights the need for all stakeholders to work together to protect young people from the dangers of tobacco addiction.

Its aim is to protect future generations by raising awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use. Under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), the Ministry of Health has published the Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) guidelines to protect minors and youth from tobacco and e-cigarette use.

In addition, the Department of School Education and Literacy has developed and launched the ToFEI Implementation Manual on World No Tobacco Day in collaboration with the Society for Socio-Economic and Educational Development.

The Department issued the manual on May 31 to all states and Union Territories for compliance. The ToFEI manual serves as a key resource for educational institutions to implement these anti-smoking measures effectively.

The manual focuses primarily on raising awareness about the harmful effects and long-term impact of tobacco use on health, as well as the different ways available to quit smoking.

It also calls for a healthy, tobacco-free environment in educational institutions and for all educational institutions to become tobacco-free.

Reference:

1. Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issue joint recommendation to states and union territories for effective implementation of guidelines and manual for tobacco-free educational institutions (https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2057347)

Source-IANS