On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava today launched the pilot version of the Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions-ToFEI Application in New Delhi. The digital application aims to strengthen implementation and monitoring of tobacco-free norms across schools and colleges in the country. It will facilitate self-assessment and reporting by educational institutions, monitor compliance with tobacco-free guidelines, ensure implementation of tobacco control signage, and help prohibit the sale of tobacco products within one hundred yards of educational institutions. Addressing the gathering, Ms Srivastava said this year’s World No Tobacco Day theme, Unmasking the Appeal- Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction, is highly relevant in protecting young people from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine addiction. She said tobacco and nicotine products are often marketed in attractive ways through flavours, packaging, surrogate advertisements and digital media to influence youth. She highlighted that tobacco use contributes significantly to cancers, cardiovascular diseases, stroke and chronic respiratory illnesses. The Secretary also noted that more than two thousand Tobacco Cessation Centres have been established across the country in hospitals, medical colleges, AYUSH institutions and other healthcare facilities. She also called upon educational institutions and stakeholders to actively participate in the pilot phase of the ToFEI application and strengthen tobacco-free practices across campuses.
On the occasion, a Standard Operating Procedure was also released for sample collection of tobacco products. The Ministry noted that the pilot project will initially be implemented in Rajasthan, Meghalaya and Maharashtra. It added that the platform is expected to support States, Union Territories and educational institutions through standardised monitoring and reporting mechanisms to promote healthier and tobacco-free environments for children and adolescents.
