Nationwide Campaign to Make Schools Tobacco-Free

Dec. 27, 2024, 4:31 p.m.

As part of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has introduced the Tobacco Free Educational Institution (ToFEI) Guidelines to protect minors and youth from tobacco use. On World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) observed on May 31, 2024, the Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education & Literacy launched the "ToFEI Implementation Manual" for schools, aiming to ensure nationwide compliance with the ToFEI guidelines.

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Tobacco use, a major cause of preventable deaths in India, accounts for nearly 1.35 million deaths annually. India is the second-largest consumer and producer of tobacco, with 8.5% of school students aged 13 to 15 using tobacco in various forms, according to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) 2019. The Ministry attributes the easy access to tobacco products around school campuses as a significant factor contributing to this issue. To reinforce the tobacco-free mission, the Secretary of the Department of School Education & Literacy issued an advisory to all States and UTs, outlining activities to be undertaken in schools and nearby areas:

- Display 'Tobacco Free Area' signage with information on designated persons.

- Ensure no evidence of tobacco use inside premises.

- Display posters and awareness materials on the harms of tobacco.

- Nominate 'Tobacco Monitors' and display their details on signage.

- Include "No Tobacco Use" guidelines in school codes of conduct.

- Mark a 100-yard tobacco-free zone around school boundaries.

- Prohibit tobacco sales within 100 yards of educational institutions.

- Conduct pledges against tobacco use as per the ToFEI manual.

The Secretary also emphasised involving civil society to spread de-addiction messages through street plays, video films, and talks by NGOs and resource persons. States and UTs were encouraged to use School Management Committee meetings, National Social Service, and the Vidyanjali-School Volunteer Initiative to engage stakeholders, including students, teachers, parents, and staff, in tobacco prevention and awareness activities.