In order to create awareness about the hazards tobacco poses, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has instructed all schools affiliated to it to observe World No Tobacco Day on May 31.
Continuing the awareness programme against use of tobacco, schools have been instructed to conduct poster-making, essay-writing and PowerPoint presentations to raise awareness among the staff and students. In a communication sent to all schools, the CBSE said: “On World No Tobacco Day on May 31, 2016, the WHO and the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control are calling countries to get ready for plain [standardised] packaging of tobacco products. The CBSE is committed to supporting all initiatives by schools, which have the major responsibility to highlight and raise awareness among their students, staff and the community, about the negative impact of tobacco use”.
The circular has also directed all schools to ensure that Section 6 of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003, which prohibits sale of tobacco products within a radius of 100 yards of any educational institution, is effectively enforced through a display board put up outside the institution.
