A key public health milestone was achieved in Indore district as 101 government schools were officially declared tobacco-free on Wednesday under a joint initiative.
The certification ceremony was held at Bal Vinay Mandir Government School in the presence of Indore Commissioner Deepak Singh. Each of the schools scored 90 percent or more in NTCP tobacco-free norms.
The achievement follows sustained efforts by the district administration, health and education departments under the leadership of Collector Ashish Singh to implement tobacco-free guidelines effectively.
District Panchayat CEO Siddharth Jain said strict measures were taken to prevent the sale of tobacco products near schools, along with awareness workshops for students and teachers.
Officials noted the growing use of tobacco among schoolchildren in recent years. This initiative aims to protect youth and promote a healthier learning environment across the district.
Police, education, and health teams collaborated to enforce the rules. The success is seen as a crucial step towards safeguarding the future of Indore’s students.
Authorities said more schools and colleges would be brought into the fold, with regular inspections planned by the health department to ensure long-term compliance.
Representatives from de-addiction NGOs including MP Voluntary Health Organisation and Vikas Vishwa Kalyan Samriddhi Sanstha distributed pamphlets and led students and principals in a no-tobacco pledge.
Key figures present included District Education Officer Vijay Kumar Mandloi, Chief Medical Officer Dr BS Satya, and former Dental College Dean Dr BM Shrivastava.