New Delhi: To mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), the Ministry of Education has asked schools to mark a 100-yard area as Tobacco Free Area and display signage indicating the prohibition of tobacco use within the premises of the educational institution.
This area is expected to include a prohibition against the use of tobacco products, including cigarettes, beedi butts, discarded gutka and tobacco pouches, spitting spots. The Ministry of Education has also suggested that schools should organize at least one tobacco control activity every six months and display the names and contact details of the tobacco monitors designated for the purpose.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also issued a detailed advisory to all States/UTs for complying with the guidelines of Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) as per the ToFEI Implementation Manual.
According to the advisory, the display of a Tobacco Free Area signage inside the premise of the educational institution with the information of the designated person is one of the suggested activities that can be taken by the schools to mark World No Tobacco Day. The Ministry of Education has also suggested that schools should display poster and other awareness materials on the harms of tobacco within the premise of the educational institutions.