With no letup in the tobacco consumption among youth in the country causing cancer and other life-threatening diseases, the Secretaries of the Union Ministries of Education and Health have jointly issued an advisory to Chief Secretaries across states. This directive calls for the strict implementation of the Tobacco-Free Educational Institution (ToFEI) manual.
In accordance with the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, the advisory underscores the alarming effects of tobacco use, especially among children and adolescents.
The 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) revealed that approximately 8.5 percent of school students aged 13 to 15 in India engage in various forms of tobacco consumption.
Disturbingly, over 5,500 children start using tobacco every day, with 55 percent of lifelong users initiating the habit before the age of 20. This early exposure often leads young people to experiment with other addictive substances, according to an official from the Health Ministry.
To address these troubling trends, the advisory emphasizes the need for a collaborative effort among all stakeholders to protect youth from the dangers of tobacco addiction. The initiative aims to educate future generations about the harmful effects of tobacco use.
As part of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), the Health Ministry has issued guidelines for Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) to safeguard minors and youth from tobacco and electronic cigarette use. Additionally, the Department of School Education and Literacy launched the ToFEI Implementation Manual on World No Tobacco Day, in partnership with the Socio Economic and Educational Development Society. This manual, distributed to all states and Union Territories on May 31, serves as an essential resource for educational institutions to effectively implement anti-tobacco measures.
The ToFEI manual emphasizes raising awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use and provides valuable information on cessation resources. It also advocates for a healthy, tobacco-free environment within educational institutions, encouraging all schools to establish themselves as tobacco-free spaces.
