Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 10: In a major step toward safeguarding young citizens from the dangers of tobacco use, the Ministries of Education and Health and Family Welfare will jointly launch the ‘Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0 (TFYC 3.0)’ on Thursday. The campaign aims to create a tobacco-free learning environment across schools and colleges in India.

According to officials, tobacco use remains a serious public health challenge, claiming over 13 lakh lives annually in the country. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS-2019) found that 8.4 per cent of students aged 13–15 currently use tobacco products, with an average initiation age of just 10 years.

Recognising the vulnerability of youth, the government has adopted a whole-of-government approach to tackle the issue through awareness, prevention, and enforcement measures. The 60-day national campaign will focus on educating and empowering children to resist tobacco initiation, supporting users who wish to quit, and fostering a culture of health and wellness across educational institutions.

States and Union Territories have been urged to reaffirm their commitment to implementing the Guidelines for Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) and conduct activities that sensitise youth on the ill effects of tobacco and substance abuse under TFYC 3.0.

Key activities under the campaign include:

• Enforcement drives to ensure campuses remain tobacco-free.
• Workshops for school heads, teachers, and NSS/NCC volunteers to spread awareness.
• Counselling and support sessions for students to quit tobacco use.
• Community campaigns to mark 100-yard tobacco-free zones around educational institutions.
• Competitions and recognition for institutions compliant with ToFEI guidelines.

Officials said the initiative is part of the Centre’s larger mission to build a healthier, addiction-free generation through collective action and continuous engagement with students, educators, and communities.