December 1, 2017, 6:47 am
The Delhi’s State Tobacco Control Cell has written to the NCERT to include a chapter on tobacco control in school curriculum of the CBSE for class 6 to 12 across educational boards. According to the Health Department 14.1% students up to age of 15 years use tobacco products, with 4.2% smoke cigarettes and 1.9% using other tobacco products. The use of chewable tobacco in various forms has also increased despite gutkha/ chewable tobacco being banned in Delhi.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 500 of 1,000 teenagers who smoke currently, would eventually die of tobacco-related diseases.
Dr S.K. Arora, Additional Director (Health) said that the Delhi government was already implemented tobacco-free educational institute initiatives through Central government guidelines and as per legal provisions of the Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act 2003 (COTPA) and Delhi Act, 1996 but school-going children were the most vulnerable group.
