Ministries push anti-tobacco measures

Amidst the growing use of tobacco among young people, the Union Education and health ministries have issued a joint advisory. The advisory is for all the states and union Territories, it is an effort to deal with the growing concern of tobacco use among youth.

The advisory urges for the strict implementation of the Tobacco-Free Educational institution (ToFEI) manual. It is a significant document to protect students from the dangers of tobacco.

In addition it mentions the statistics from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) 2019, which revealed that 8.5% of school students aged 13 to 15 in India consume tobacco in various forms.
Something more concerning and disturbing is , over 5,500 children in the country begin using tobacco every day. As per the advisory, 55% of lifelong tobacco users pick up the habit even before they turn 20. The concerning trend shows the importance of protecting adolescents from tobacco exposure.

The Tobacco-Free Educational institution manual is a vital resource. It empowers schools to implement and take anti-tobacco measures effectively. The ToFEI offers detailed steps and strategies for institutions to build a tobacco free environment. To ensure students understand the harmful effects of smoking and tobacco use.

An official statement stated that “The advisory emphasises the need for collaborative efforts of all stakeholders to safeguard young people from the dangers of tobacco addiction,”
The goal of the collaboration is to raise awareness and promote anti-tobacco measures in schools.

As part of the National Tobacco Control Programme, the ToFEI guidelines were announced by the health ministry. It is to safeguard minors and prevent them from falling prey to tobacco and electronic cigarette use.

The manual was developed by the Department of School Education and Literacy. It came in collaboration with the Socio-Economic and Educational Development Society. It was officially launched on World No Tobacco Day, which was on May 31, 2024.

The purpose is to guide the youth on the right path, make them understand the harmful effects of tobacco.