Urgent Call to Action: Save Our Youth – Centre’s Advisory to States and UTs to Combat Rampant Tobacco Use
The Centre has issued a crucial advisory to States and Union Territories aimed at combating tobacco use among youth. In a collaborative effort, the Union Education Ministry and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have directed Chief Secretaries of States and Union Territories to implement the Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions Guidelines and Manual effectively.
The advisory’s primary objective is to protect future generations by raising awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and encouraging robust tobacco control measures within educational institutions. It calls upon schools, colleges, and universities to adopt these guidelines to ensure the health and well-being of their students.
Highlighting the alarming consequences of tobacco consumption, especially among children and adolescents, the advisory references the Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2019. The survey revealed that 8.5 percent of school students aged 13 to 15 in India use tobacco in various forms, and 55 percent of lifelong tobacco users start the habit before the age of 20. Given these concerning statistics, the advisory stresses the importance of collective efforts from all stakeholders to protect young people from the dangers of tobacco addiction.
Original Story https://www.newsonair.gov.in/centre-issues-advisory-to-states-and-uts-to-combat-tobacco-use-among-youth/
Category : National
Tags:
