- Campaign gains momentum in city
Bhopal: Under the Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign 3.0, 287 schools and 31 villages in the city have been declared tobacco-free, with efforts underway to reach the target of 400 schools. Through awareness drives, competitions, pledges, and a scoring-based certification system, the initiative aims to protect thousands of children from tobacco addiction.
One of the campaign’s standout features is the introduction of Tobacco Monitors in schools. Each school selects a student who, along with teachers and health department officials, ensures that no tobacco products are used or found on the premises. These students not only keep watch but also motivate peers to quit tobacco, gradually turning the initiative into a student-led movement.
Tobacco-Free Certificate
Schools earn the Tobacco-Free Certificate by scoring 100 points across nine parameters set by the health department. These include a clean campus with no signs of tobacco use, regular awareness activities, absence of tobacco shops within 100 yards, deployment of a tobacco monitor, “No Tobacco” boards, and a stain-free environment. Principals must also submit a self-declaration ensuring compliance with Sections 4–6B of the COTPA Act. A yellow line is then drawn around the boundary to mark the tobacco-free zone.
CMHO Dr. Manish Sharma said the campaign is progressing well, with strong support from the School Education Department. The mission now is to mobilise not just students but the entire community against tobacco.
