New Delhi: In a significant move to shield students and youth from the pervasive dangers of tobacco and substance abuse, the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, has issued a robust call to action to all States and Union Territories (UTs). The directive emphasizes the strict enforcement of existing rules and guidelines aimed at creating tobacco, alcohol, and drug-free zones around educational institutions.
The nationwide enforcement drive, spearheaded by Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, DoSEL, follows the 8th Apex Committee meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) held on May 15, 2025. This high-level meeting, chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, underscored the critical necessity of protecting young minds from harmful substances and urged for synchronized efforts between education and law enforcement agencies.
The urgency of this initiative is highlighted by alarming statistics: the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS-2), 2019, revealed that 8.5% of Indian students aged 13–15 were using tobacco in some form. Even more concerning is the staggering figure of over 5,500 children in India initiating tobacco use every single day. Tobacco use often serves as a gateway to more dangerous substances, with most adult users beginning their journey during adolescence, frequently able to easily purchase these products from shops located near schools, despite existing legal prohibitions.
To actively combat this growing threat, the Ministry of Education is vigorously implementing the Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) Guidelines. These guidelines provide a structured framework to ensure schools and colleges become completely free from tobacco use and sale. As part of this effort, DoSEL had launched the implementation Manual of ToFEI on May 31, 2024. This manual is designed to assist schools in effectively adhering to the ToFEI guidelines, thereby fostering a healthier, tobacco-free environment for students. It empowers all stakeholders to adopt and enforce guidelines that safeguard students from the perils of tobacco.