8.5 per cent of students aged 13-15 years in India use tobacco, says study
The guidelines – launched to safeguard minors and youth from tobacco addiction – also stress the need to take proactive measures to eliminate tobacco vendors within a 100-yard radius of all educational establishments.
NEW DELHI: As more than 5,500 children initiate tobacco consumption daily in India, the centre on Friday rolled out updated guidelines for all educational institutions and campuses to make them tobacco-free.
On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, the Union Education Ministry, along with the Union Health Ministry, rolled out the updated guidelines, which stipulate that these educational institutions need to undertake nine activities, including displaying ‘tobacco-free area’ or ‘smoke-free area’ signages in the premises; displaying ‘tobacco-free education institutions’ at the entrance’ and nominating ‘tobacco monitors’ both in educational institutions and in schools.
The guidelines – launched to safeguard minors and youth from tobacco addiction – also stress the need to take proactive measures to eliminate tobacco vendors within a 100-yard radius of all educational establishments, a clause under the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003.
As there have been violations of this clause, the guidelines mentioned that if there is any such shop within 100 yards selling tobacco products, it should be moved out and instructed the head of institutions to penalise the violators with a fine up to Rs. 200 under Section 6b of COTPA-2003.
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