Aiming to address the alarming rise of tobacco consumption among youth in the country, the Secretaries of the Union Education and Health Ministries have jointly issued an advisory to Chief Secretaries of states, calling for rigorous implementation of the Tobacco-Free Educational Institution (ToFEI) manual.

Aligning with the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, the advisory highlights the concerning impact of tobacco use, particularly among children and adolescents. According to the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), approximately 8.5 percent of school students aged 13 to 15 in India engage in various forms of tobacco consumption.

Alarmingly, more than 5,500 children begin using tobacco every day, and 55 percent of lifelong users start the habit before turning 20. This early exposure often leads adolescents to explore other addictive substances, said an official from the Health Ministry.

To combat these trends, the advisory has called for a united effort from all stakeholders to protect young people from the dangers of tobacco addiction. It aims to safeguard future generations by raising awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco use.

As part of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), the Health Ministry has released guidelines for Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) to shield minors and youth from tobacco and electronic cigarette use.

Furthermore, the Department of School Education and Literacy launched the ToFEI Implementation Manual on World No Tobacco Day, in collaboration with the Socio Economic and Educational Development Society, said the official.

This manual, disseminated to all states and Union Territories on May 31, serves as a crucial resource for educational institutions to effectively implement anti-tobacco measures, he added.

The ToFEI manual focuses on raising awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use and provides information on cessation resources. It also advocates for a healthy, tobacco-free environment within educational institutions, encouraging all schools to become tobacco-free spaces.