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Jharkhand: 5.1 % teens aged 13-15 years consume tobacco; Government executes pilot project to aid students in quitting tobacco

The Department of School Education and Literacy, Jharkhand has decided to implement a pilot project in some schools to make students give up tobacco. A survey report suggests that 5.1 per cent of teenagers in the age group of 13-15 years in Jharkhand are using tobacco in any form.

Mirror Now Digital

Updated Sep 25, 2022, 16:56 IST

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Jharkhand: In an attempt to curb the menace of tobacco use, the Department of School Education and Literacy, Jharkhand has decided to implement a pilot project in some schools to make students give up tobacco.

A survey report stated that 5.1 per cent of teenagers in the age group of 13-15 years in Jharkhand are using tobacco in any form, PTI reported. Ten schools, five government and five private institutions, in four districts will be developed as model tobacco-free institutions, the official said. Later, the project will be expanded in other districts.

The department with technical support from the Socio Economic and Educational Development Society (SEEDS) has identified 10 schools each in Ranchi, Bokaro, Dhanabd, and East Singhbhum districts for the implementation of the pilot project.

SEEDS executive director said, “As per recently released Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS 2019), in Jharkhand 5.1 per cent young children in the age group of 13-15 years are using tobacco in any form.”

“We launched the project in Ranchi on September 23 and other schools of the selected districts will be covered soon,” said Director Secondary Education and State Nodal Officer (Tobacco Control Programme). About 13 lakh people die in India every year due to tobacco consumption, he said.

“There is a need to protect people, especially children, minors, and young people from tobacco use. It is often seen that tobacco products like cigarettes, bidi, pan masala, zarda, and khaini are sold around educational institutions of the state. This encourages smoking and tobacco use among young people and students,” Kumar further said.

The government has decided to implement Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) guidelines in government and private schools under the Tobacco Control Programme, he said.

As part of the programme, ‘tobacco-free education institution’ signage will be displayed at the entrance or boundary wall of the institutions and ‘tobacco-free area’ inside the school premises.

Posters on the harmful effects of tobacco will be exhibited and the institutions will have to organise sensitisation programme. Shops selling tobacco products within 100 yards of the educational institutions will be removed with the help of district administration.

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