Health Ministry calls for tobacco monitor in schools
- 09 June, 2019
In a bid to boost the implementation of tobacco control initiatives among adolescents, the Union Health Ministry has asked the educational institutions to designate ‘tobacco monitors’ among students.Under the revised guidelines for ‘Tobacco-free Educational Institutions’, the ministry will award a TOFEI (Tobacco Free Educational Institution) certificate to those institutes which are found to have met the benchmark score after verifying implementation of norms.
The guidelines stated that the management of educational institutions must ensure that no tobacco product is sold inside the premise and in an area within 100 yards from the premises. In case of any violation in this regard, the issue needs to be reported at National Quitline at 1800-11-2356.
The guideline also includes that with the help of local law enforcement authorities, the community, including parents, should make efforts to stop the sale of tobacco within the campus. A TOFEI must not participate in any event sponsored by any firm or a subsidiary of a firm or seller which promotes use of, or manufactures or sells tobacco product in any form.
Further, the guidelines stressed that management and tobacco monitors must also be vigilant to note tobacco substitutes such as e-cigarettes and devices like ‘heat, not burn’, and flavoured hookah are not used.
The ministry advised schools and educational institutions to pledge against tobacco, and to use signs calling for no tobacco use in the form of boards or wall paints to be displayed at prominent places outside and in the premises.
The revised guidelines were released on World No Tobacco Day.
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