Ministry of Education Campaign: Tobacco Free Nation

In June, 2024, the Ministry of Education has unveiled a comprehensive plan to create tobacco-free educational institutions across the nation.

Key Points

India is the world’s second-largest consumer and producer of tobacco, faces a significant public health challenges with tobacco use accounting for approximately 1.35 million deaths annually.
According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) 2019, 8.5 percent of school students aged 13 to 15 use tobacco in various forms.
On World No Tobacco Day, observed on 31^st May 2024, the Department of School Education & Literacy launched the “ToFEI Implementation Manual.”
The manual, developed under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), aims to guide schools in complying with Tobacco Free Educational Institution (ToFEI) guidelines.

National Tobacco Control Programme

Government of India launched the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in the year 2007-08 during the 11th Five-Year-Plan, with the aim to

Create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption,
Reduce the production and supply of tobacco products,
Ensure effective implementation of the provisions under “The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003” (COTPA)
Help the people quit tobacco use, and (v) facilitate implementation of strategies for prevention and control of tobacco advocated by WHO Framework Convention of Tobacco Control .