All heads of schools under the Directorate of Education (DoE) have been directed by the Delhi government to send monthly reports of measures being taken to ensure that the schools are tobacco-free zones under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP).
Every school will have to fill up a form, which includes a number of criteria that the schools have to mention whether they have followed. Schools will have to mention if they have carried out sensitisation and training under NTCP rules, appointed nodal officers, displayed ‘no smoking’ signs along with helpline numbers, number of inspections done to check whether there are any tobacco vendor within 100 metres of the school premises, etc.
Schools have also been told to popularise the ‘1FOR1’ campaign that encourages students to adopt a tobacco user and assist him or her to quit.
Schools will also have to fill details of activities conducted on ‘Dry Day For Tobacco’ on the last day of the month apart from number and type of awareness activities conducted throughout the month.
The form is to be filled on a monthly basis by the schools and to be sent to the respective district Health Office (CDMO) with a copy to the Directorate General of Health Services (State Tobacco Control Office).
Students found consuming tobacco products on school campus will have their names forwarded to health officials.
