The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare have jointly issued an advisory to all States and Union Territories to ensure the effective implementation of the Tobacco-Free Educational Institution (ToFEI) guidelines and manual. This advisory, addressed to Chief Secretaries, highlights the importance of implementing the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, in educational institutions.
The advisory, signed by the Secretaries of the Department of School Education, Department of Higher Education, and the Department of Health & Family Welfare, emphasizes the growing concern over tobacco consumption among youth, particularly children and adolescents. It references the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) 2019, which revealed that 8.5% of school students aged 13 to 15 in India use tobacco in various forms. Alarmingly, over 5,500 children in India start using tobacco daily, and 55% of lifelong tobacco users begin before the age of 20.
The advisory calls for coordinated efforts from all stakeholders to protect the youth from the dangers of tobacco addiction. The key objective is to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco and implement robust tobacco control measures in educational institutions.
As part of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) guidelines to protect minors and youth from tobacco and electronic cigarette use. The Department of School Education and Literacy launched the ToFEI Implementation Manual on World No Tobacco Day (31st May 2024) in collaboration with the Socio-Economic and Educational Development Society (SEEDS). This manual was shared with all States and UTs for compliance.
The manual serves as a crucial resource for schools, colleges, and universities to enforce anti-tobacco measures. The objectives of the manual include:
- Raising awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use among students, teachers, and staff.
- Informing about available avenues for tobacco cessation.
- Creating a healthy, tobacco-free environment in educational institutions.
- Ensuring better implementation of legal provisions regarding the sale and use of tobacco, especially near educational institutions, in public places, and among minors.
The advisory urges all educational institutions, including public and private schools, colleges, and universities, to adopt the ToFEI guidelines to safeguard the health and well-being of students. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare will work with state and district-level officials to ensure the successful implementation of these measures. Through these collaborative efforts, the government aims to reduce tobacco use among children and prevent future generations from falling into addiction.
URL to access the Implementation Manual for ToFEI Manual: https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/update/im_tofel.pdf
URL to access the ToFEI Guidelines:
https://ntcp.mohfw.gov.in/assets/document/TEFI-Guidelines.pdf
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