If the State Health Department is to have its way city schools -- Class 6 to 12 standards -- would be studying about the ill-effects of tobacco as part of their school curriculum.
The Department has written to CBSE and NCERT for inclusion of tobacco related matters for sensitising students at an early age about the perils of smoking.
Dr. S. K. Arora, Additional Director of Health, Delhi Government said: “This inclusion is aimed at ensuring that students, teachers and parents are sensitised right from the beginning and lakh of deaths every year due to tobacco use get prevented.”
He added that about 14 per cent of students are affected by tobacco habits and the new marketing strategies of tobacco industry bringing e-cigarettes and hookah bars, are doing damage to young boys and girls.
“Youngsters pick up chewable tobacco a habit that is dangerous and responsible for oral cancer in 90 per cent of cases,” he said.
Ten challans were issued to some of the schools in the city for various violations under section 4 of Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003 and a fine of Rs. 8,500 was collected, a health official noted.
