With an aim to further drive in the ill-effects of tobacco products into students' minds, the state government wants it to be included in the school syllabus. The higher and technical education department had come out with a government resolution (GR) on March 7 for all institutions to follow.
With an aim to further drive in the ill-effects of tobacco products into students' minds, the state government wants it to be included in the school syllabus. The higher and technical education department had come out with a government resolution (GR) on March 7 for all institutions to follow.
Recently, the government had made it compulsory for all education institutions to put up a board outside their institutions displaying the ban on sale of tobacco or its related products within the radius of 100 metres, as well as its ill-effects in Hindi and English. However, it seems that the government wants to spread awareness more rigorously.
On the occasion of World Cancer Day on February 4, a meeting had been held at Tata Memorial hospital at Parel, which was attended by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and other bureaucrats. Fadnavis stressed on a strict ban on the sale of tobacco or tobacco-related products near educational institutions. He also assured that more awareness would be spread among students in schools and colleges. The GR stated that concerned department should follow the instructions given and send a report on the same by March 10 to the government.
Anjali Chhabria, who is on the board of directors of NGO Salaam Bombay, which works with children to free them from substance abuse, said, "The first step towards any kind of education is awareness. Most of the time, children use tobacco because of their parents, whom they watch consuming it. The first experience comes at the age of 12. Hence, awareness of ill effects of consumption of tobacco through education is good idea."
While most colleges are displaying the no-sale board, many are yet to discontinue tobacco shops around their premises.
V J Sirwaiya, principal of Wilson College, said, "Most of the time, students leave consumption only after counselling. But it is a good idea if the department wants to include awareness about the ill-effects of tobacco consumption in the syllabus. Some percentage of students will definitely benefit from this education."
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