Lok Sabha Question No. 4054 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Tobacco Free Educational Institutions
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat, Shri Basavaraj Bommai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4054 ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025

## Tobacco Free Educational Institutions

## 4054.    Shri Basavaraj Bommai:

Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat:

## Will the Minister of EDUCATION

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that as per the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS-2), 2019, 8.5 per cent of Indian students aged 13-15 years were using tobacco in some form and more than 5,500 children in the country start using tobacco every day;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has taken any steps to curb the prevalence of tobacco use among youth and school children and developed any strategies and assessment tools to strengthen health literacy among them and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has identified best practices or success stories in implementing Tobacco Free Educational Institutions; and
- (d) if so, whether there is any plans to replicate such practices across the country and the progress made so far in achieving 'Tobacco Free Educational Institutions' (TOFEI) in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (SHRI JAYANT CHOUDHARY)

- (a) As per the findings of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS-4), 2019, 8.4% Indian students aged 13-15 years were using tobacco in some form or the other. Findings of the survey available in the public domain at https://ntcp.mohfw.gov.in/assets/document/surveys-reportspublications/GYTS%204%20Final%20Report.pdf.
- (b) to (d) The Government has taken several measures to curb the prevalence of tobacco use among youth and make schools to tobacco free. Some of the key measures taken are given below:
- i. Government had released Guidelines for Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI)  in  2008  and  same  was  updated  in  2019.  It  provides  a  structured

guideline to make schools and colleges completely free from tobacco use and sale.

- ii. DoSEL had launched the implementation Manual of ToFEI on 31st May 2024. It aims to assist schools in adhering to the ToFEI guidelines, thereby creating a healthier,  tobacco-free  environment  for  students.  The  manual  covering  9 activities to be taken up by the schools, empowers all the stakeholders to adopt and enforce guidelines that protect students from the dangers of tobacco.
- iii. A joint DO letter from Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Department of Higher Education and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was issued on 18 th September, 2024 to all States and UTs requesting to strictly implement ToFEI guidelines and various provisions of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003 (especially Section 6A and 6B).
- iv. In  November  2024,  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  issued  an  advisory  to  all States/UTs to strictly implement ToFEI and COTPA provisions.
- v. A national call for a month-long enforcement drive was issued by DoSEL on 19 May 2025, directing States/UTs to ensure areas around schools remain free from tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, through concrete measures for effective implementation of activities mentioned in ToFEI guidelines and the provisions of  Sections  6A  and  6B  of  COTPA, 2003.  It  was  highlighted that,  under  the ToFEI guidelines, immediate action from local authorities is required on two key activities: Activity 8 - marking a yellow line 100 yards around educational institutions to designate a tobacco-free zone, and Activity 9 - ensuring that no shops or vendors sell tobacco products within that 100-yard zone.
- vi. The National Workshop on 'Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products,' was organized by DoSEL held on 31 May 2025  to  strengthen  awareness  and  promote  the  effective  implementation  of ToFEI guidelines. The workshop provided a common platform for officials and representatives  from  the  Ministries  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  and  Home Affairs, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCrB), NCERT,  CBSE, State/UT governments, civil society organizations, domain experts, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the National Service Scheme (NSS), and students from educational institutions. During the workshop, modules initiatives developed  by  NCERT  such  as  the  School  Health  Programme  (SHP)  and Manodarpan  initiative  were  explained  to  the  States.  Several  States/UTs presented their best practices in the implementation of ToFEI which included

translation of ToFEI guidelines into the regional language by Andhra Pradesh for wider reach, creation of a Live Organ Museum by Puducherry to educate students  on  tobacco's  harms,  and  mobilization  of  students  by  Meghalaya through rallies, signature campaigns, and street plays for student led advocacy efforts.  The  best  case  studies  from  various  States  were  shared  with  all stakeholders .

- vii. The World No Tobacco Day Awareness Quiz (with 10 questions) 2025 was launched on MyGov on 22 May, 2025. This initiative aims to foster awareness among school/college  students  about  the  harmful  effects  of  tobacco  and  the deceptive marketing strategies used by the tobacco and nicotine industry. So far, the quiz has witnessed more than 69,000 participants.
- viii. 'The School Challenge: Towards a Tobacco-Free Generation' was launched by DoSEL on 11 June 2025 on the MyGov platform to spread awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use. The Challenge comprises four activities-Rally, Nukkad Natak, Posters, and Slogans/Poems-which schools can use to mobilise local communities against tobacco consumption and promote the message: 'Say NO to Tobacco, YES to Health.' This initiative is aimed at inspiring students to become agents of change and catalysts for achieving a tobacco-free generation. As on 13.08.2025, more than 4,000 schools have participated in the School Challenge.

In addition to  the  above  measures,  the  Government,  in  collaboration  with  NCERT, continuously conducts capacity-building programmes and awareness sessions for school heads across all States and UTs to spread awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use, foster positive  behavioural  changes,  and  strengthen  the  implementation  of  ToFEI  guidelines  in schools.

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