Over 5k children begin tobacco use daily, ministries push anti-tobacco measures

The union education and health ministries have issued an advisory for strict implementation of the Tobacco-Free Educational Institution manual to combat tobacco use among children and adolescents in schools.

In Short

• Ministries issue joint advisory on tobacco-free schools
• Over 5,500 children start using tobacco daily in India
• ToFEI manual provides steps for schools to combat tobacco use

The Union education and health ministries have issued a joint advisory to all states and union territories in an effort to tackle the growing issue of tobacco use among young people.

The advisory calls for the strict implementation of the Tobacco-Free Educational Institution (ToFEI) manual, a key document designed to protect students from the dangers of tobacco.

It highlights the disturbing 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. Even more concerning, over 5,500 children in the country begin using tobacco every day.

Tobacco addiction is often a gateway to other harmful substances. According to the advisory, 55% of lifelong tobacco users pick up the habit before they turn 20. This alarming trend underlines the importance of protecting adolescents from tobacco exposure.

WHAT THE ToFEI MANUAL OFFERS

The Tobacco-Free Educational Institution manual is a vital resource that empowers schools to implement anti-tobacco measures effectively.

It provides detailed steps and strategies for institutions to create a tobacco-free environment, ensuring that students understand the harmful effects of smoking and tobacco use.

“The advisory emphasises the need for collaborative efforts of all stakeholders to safeguard young people from the dangers of tobacco addiction,” the official statement said. This collaboration is aimed at raising awareness and promoting anti-tobacco measures in schools.

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

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

(With PTI inputs)