Follow guidelines to make institutes tobacco-free: Edu Dept

Jalandhar, October 4

The Education Department has asked educational institutes to follow guidelines of the Health Department to make the institutes tobacco-free. As per the new guidelines, the Educational Institute (EI) management should ensure that no tobacco products are sold on the premises and within 100 yards of it.

The El management must not permit any use of tobacco products within institutions by anybody, including students, teachers, other staff members, school bus drivers and visitors.

The guidelines also say observance of the ‘No tobacco use’ norm should be included in the EI’s code of conduct guidelines and action should be taken against such violations as per its internal policy. Another suggestion is to make tobacco users ineligible for the student/teacher/staff of the year award or other awards given for co-curricular excellence.

Since the premises of all EIs by their nature are public places, smoking in such areas is a violation of Section 4 of COTPA. Heads of all educational institutions are also authorised to impose and collect fines under the COTPA, 2003, for such violations.

The guidelines also state that tobacco use is the single largest cause of preventable deaths and illness worldwide and it kills half of its users prematurely, mostly in their reproductive age. Tobacco use is a major risk factor for cancer, diabetes, infertility, blindness, TB, etc. —TNS