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Nodal Officers Sensitised On Tobacco Control At GGSIPU

Higher Education

Nodal Officers Sensitised On Tobacco Control At GGSIPU

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Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), a NAAC A++ accredited institution in Dwarka, New Delhi, became the center for a landmark initiative in focally combating tobacco consumption in higher educational institutions. The university recently hosted a comprehensive training and capacity-building program on “Tobacco Control and Cessation,” which brought together over 80 nodal officers from higher educational institutions across Delhi NCR. The event was organized by the National Resource Centre for Oral Health and Tobacco Cessation under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), in collaboration with Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences and GGSIPU.

The workshop specially focused on the implementation of tobacco control laws in educational institutions; thus, it emphasized the urgent requirement for such actions keeping in view the alarming figures. The experts participating in the event commented that India’s tobacco industry generates business worth more than Rs 70,000 crore annually, and about 27 crore people smoke tobacco in some form. Among them, 20 crore use smokeless tobacco and almost 13.5 lakh die annually from tobacco. However, a far more worrying number is 5,500 children reportedly starting tobacco smoking daily.

Prof. Mahesh Verma, Vice Chancellor of GGSIPU, made a very passionate keynote address where he appealed for joint efforts in fighting tobacco use. He labeled consumption as “the sure short pathway to devastation” and underlined the requirement of disproving myths related to the practice. Taking inspiration from the particularly healthy and tobacco-free lifestyle of the Sikh community, which he added had shown characteristics of robust living and resilience, Prof. Mahesh opined that this was the need of the time.

He seemed to propagate action with a positive approach using what he described as the “MAD” strategy—magnifying, amplifying, and multiplying efforts to create a ripple effect leading to more individuals joining the “No Smoking Zones.” According to him, this chain reaction, brought about by popular engagement, is the only route that can bring about the vision of “Viksit Bharat” by 2047. He emphasized further that a societal movement, rather than isolated efforts, is the only route toward ending tobacco consumption and all its dangerous consequences.

The key speakers in the event, like Mr. Pranay Lal, Dr. Vikrant Mohanty, Dr. Amit Yadav, Mr. Deepak Mishra, Dr. Radhika Gupta, and Dr. Vartika Kathuria Monga, spoke about some critical dimensions regarding tobacco control. They asked the current prescription of tobacco laws in India that is unclear with gaps. Under these laws, tobacco is prohibited within a 100-meter radius of any educational institution, advertisements are banned on campuses, and institutions are required to display pictorial warnings prominently. However, enforcement remains a significant challenge, they noted.

The participants were informed of the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under the “To Free Educational Institutions” (ToFEI) initiative, which aims to make all educational institutions in India 100% tobacco-free by 2026. The Ministry of Education has been actively collaborating with other agencies to ensure that these guidelines are effectively implemented and adopted across the country.

Prof. Varun Joshi gave a welcome address to open the event, reminding the audience about the pressing importance of awareness and capacity building in nodal officers. He narrated how crucial they are as change agents within their institutions. The program culminated with a vote of thanks by Prof. Rajesh Kumar, who placed on record his appreciation of the organizers, resource persons, and participants in their efforts towards making educational spaces healthier and tobacco-free.

The event also brought to fore the socio-economic impacts of tobacco consumption, not merely health impacts. It was emphasized that stringent enforcement of tobacco control laws in academic institutions should be the critical step to protect future generations from adverse influences of tobacco addiction.

The program required a collective and sustained effort from all stakeholders, including educators, administrators, parents, and policymakers, especially because the young population of India is most vulnerable. The nodal officers left the program with a better understanding of tobacco cessation strategies and an enhanced capacity to implement tobacco control measures in their institutions.

This way, the dream of tobacco-free schools is gradually moving forward as part of the government’s commitment to healthier, safer, and more productive environments for students and staff.

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