365Telugu.Com, Online News,Hyderabad, 28,February 2020: Steadfast in its commitment to safeguard the health of youth from the menace of tobacco products, the Commissioner of Intermediate Education asked all DIEOs, Nodal Officers, Principals of Junior Colleges in Telangana state to make all Government degree colleges as “Tobacco Free”.All the Principals of Government Degree Colleges were also directed to display“No Smoking/Smokeless Tobacco” sign boards in the colleges. It further add that that to declare tobacco free educational institute through enforcement and to coordinate with Voluntary Health Association of India to organise a half day sensitization programme on Tobacco Control Laws.
Dr. A Srikanth, Secretary Indian Dental Association, Deccan Branch – “I thank the Govt of Telanagana State and Commissioner of Intermediate Education for looking into the tobacco control issue put forward by us in joint collaboration with Voluntary Health Association of India and issued order to protect the health of children of Telangana.”
As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey of India 2016-17, 17.8% of adults (15 years and above) in Telangana use tobacco in some form or other. Tobacco use leads to a huge burden of diseases, disability and death and demands for high health care. The survey report alerts for prioritization of tobacco control for the larger benefits in the state. As per Section 6 of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA), there is a ban on the sale of tobacco to and by minors and prohibition on sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions. Under Section 6 (b) of COTPA, the sale of tobacco products is prohibited in an area within a radius of 100 yards of any educational institutions and mandatory signage in this regard should be displayed prominently near the main gate and on the boundary wall of the school/institute.