Govt launches Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign 3.0 to safeguard students’ health

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, on Thursday launched the Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0, a 60-day nationwide initiative aimed at protecting young minds from the dangers of tobacco and nicotine. The campaign seeks to empower youth to resist peer pressure, make informed choices, and become ambassadors of a tobacco-free and addiction-free lifestyle.

Tobacco consumption is a significant public health challenge in India, claiming over 13 lakh lives annually. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey reported that 8.4 per cent of students aged 13-15 years currently use tobacco products, with an average initiation age of just 10 years. “Tobacco consumption is a significant public health challenge, and children are especially vulnerable to early experimentation with tobacco,” Patel emphasised.

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The government has taken persistent steps to protect citizens against tobacco-related health hazards. India has taken the lead in regulating the depiction of tobacco in films, television, and online platforms, ensuring health warnings and anti-tobacco messages reach diverse audiences. The sale of tobacco products to minors below 18 years of age and within 100 yards of educational institutions is strictly prohibited.

The Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0 prioritises six key strategies:

Public Awareness Campaigns: Intensifying public awareness campaigns about the dangers of tobacco

Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions: Strengthening compliance with the revised guidelines for Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions to maintain schools and colleges as tobacco-free zones

Enforcement of Tobacco Control Laws: Reinforcing enforcement of tobacco control laws, including the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act and the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act

Tobacco-Free Villages: Expanding the Tobacco-Free Villages initiative to empower communities to eliminate tobacco use

Social Media Outreach: Amplifying social media outreach through innovative digital platforms

Capacity Building: Building capacity for tobacco cessation

Through this campaign, the government aims to create a tobacco-free learning environment, educate and empower children and youth, and promote a strong culture of health and wellness across schools and institutes of higher education.