To create awareness about the ill-effects of tobacco consumption among the students, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) would organise a series of competitions for the students of the schools affiliated to it.
The board is organising the competitions on the occasion of ‘No Tobacco Day’ which would be celebrated on May 31. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has set a theme ‘Get ready for plain (standardised) packaging of the tobacco products’ for this year.
In a circular directed to heads of the all the schools, Additional Director (Research and Innovation), Sugandh Sharma has asked the schools to conduct contests for the school students so that they are made aware about the ill effects of tobacco.
The contest includes a Poster making competition with a theme-‘Tobacco: A leading risk factor for non-communicable diseases’. Similarly Essay writing on “Tobacco kills in any form or disguise would also be organised. The students are also invited to express their views by writing a report on subject ‘Media and Tobacco: How they get the message across’.
The board has asked the school heads to ensure that all the entries should reach it by May 15. The selected entries would be felicitated by the board.
In the circular the Board has also asked the schools to ensure that Section VI of Indian Tobacco Control Act COTPA 2003, which
prohibits the sale of tobacco products in an area within radius of 100 yards of any educational institution, is effectively enforced through a Display Board put up outside the institution.
“The CBSE is committed to supporting all initiatives by schools, which have the major responsibility to highlight and raise awareness among their students, staff and the community, about the negative impact of tobacco use,’’ the circular reads.
The Principal of KV, ONGC, Dhanraj Singh Negi said that the initiative of the board to create awareness about the ill effects of tobacco is laudable as tobacco pollutes both the mind and body of the user. He said that the school already enforces the provisions of COPTA .