ministry of education

Education Ministry launches nation-wide campaign on tobacco free educational institutions; rolls out guidelines

Suparna Ghosh

Posted on 25 Jun 2024

13:50 PM

File Image

Summary

The Government of India had earlier launched the National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) in year 2007- 08 to accelerate tobacco control efforts in the country

The Ministry of Education on Monday i.e. 24 June launched a nation-wide campaign on Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) as part of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP).

India is the second largest consumer and producer of tobacco in the world. The use of tobacco is one of the major causes of preventable deaths in India and accounts for nearly 1.35 million deaths every year in the country.

The Ministry of Education issued guidelines especially taking into account the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) 2019, which revealed that 8.5 percent of school students in the age group of 13 to 15 consume tobacco in different forms across the country. Notably, the Department of School Education and Literacy has developed a “ToFEI implementation manual” for schools and launched it on World No Tobacco Day on 31st May.

‘The objective is to make educational institutions across the nation comply with the ToFEI guidelines and become #Tobacco Free Area,’ the ministry notified.

With regard to this campaign, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India issued a detailed advisory to all States/UTs for complying with Guidelines of Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) as per the ToFEI Implementation Manual in a befitting manner by undertaking the following suggestive activities in schools and nearby area:

ToFEI Guidelines:

Display ‘Tobacco Free Area’ Signage inside the premise of Educational Institution with the information of designated person.
Display “Tobacco Free Education Institution” signage at entrance/boundary wall of Educational Institution with the information of designated person.
There should not be any evidence of tobacco use inside the premise like cigarette/beedi butts or discarded gutka/tobacco pouches, spitting spots.
Display of poster & other awareness materials on harms of tobacco within the premise of educational institutions.
Organising at least one tobacco control activity every 6 months in educational institutions.
Nomination of ‘Tobacco Monitors’ and their names, designation, and contact number are to be mentioned on the signage.
Inclusion of “No Tobacco Use” Guidelines in the Educational Institutions code of conduct.
Marking of 100 yards area from the outer limit of boundary wall/fence of the educational institute.
Shops within 100 yards of the Educational Institute shall not sell any kind of tobacco products.
Take pledge against Tobacco use as per Annexure-III of Implementation Manual of ToFEI.

‘Easy access to tobacco products in its different forms around our school buildings and campuses believed to be one of the major contributing factors causing the above situation,’ the ministry further stated.

The Government of India had earlier launched the National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) in year 2007- 08 to accelerate tobacco control efforts in the country. Implementation of different provisions of tobacco control law (COTPA-2003), school awareness programs, IEC activities, capacity building of stakeholders and counselling for quitting at Tobacco Cessation Centres are main activities under NTCP. To address the tobacco menace, Government of India enacted the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA) 2003.

Last updated on 26 Jun 2024

01:09 PM