AMN / NEW DELHI
The Centre has issued an advisory to States and Union Territories to combat tobacco use among youth. Union Education Ministry and Health and Family Welfare Ministry have jointly issued advisory to the Chief Secretaries of States and UTs for effective implementation of Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions Guidelines and Manual. The goal is to protect future generations by raising awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco use and promoting tobacco control measures within educational institutions.
The government advisory underscores the alarming effects of tobacco consumption, particularly on children and adolescents. It draws attention to the findings of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2019, which revealed that 8.5 percent of school students aged 13 to 15 in India consume tobacco in various forms.
The survey said 55 percent of lifelong tobacco users initiate the habit before the age of 20. The advisory encourages educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and universities, to adopt the Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions manual and guidelines to safeguard the health and well-being of students. The advisory also emphasised the need for collaborative efforts of all the stakeholders to safeguard young people from the dangers of tobacco addiction.