Tobacco Free Educational Institutions

The workshop was organized under the campaign "Tobacco Free Himachal" by Himachal Pradesh Voluntary Helath Association (HPVHA) the state chapter of Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI)on 21st September, 2010. About 100 representatives and heads of educational instituions of Shimla city were gethered in the workshop. Dr. D.S. Minhas the DGP, HP and Dr. Srikant Baldi, the Principal Secretary Education have jointly presided the workshop for three long hours at HHH Conference Hall. The heads of the educational isntitutions have agreed to make their isntitutions a Tobacco Free. They agreed to start a campaign with the civil society and government to control the sale of tobacco products in the 100 yards of any educational isntitutions which is prohibited under COTPA,2003. The institution heads has urged HPVHA for the formation of health corner in their istitutions and discussion on the ill effects of tobacco with the students and parents in the coming PTA meetings. The tobacco consumption and other chemical drug is increasing alarmingly among the school children. As about 40% of school children are using any form of tobacco products the primary factor for the chemical drug abuse. Both the top bureaucrats have put there valuable inputs to control the increasing demand for these products in Himachal Pradesh. They emphasised on teachers to be the role models for the coming genration and they can save the future of our nation.