Overview on the implementation of smoke-free educational institutions in Tamilnadu, India.

ABSTRACT

'The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003,' known as COTPA in short, was enacted by the Government of India to control the tobacco menace. One of the successful strategies adopted by the government of Tamilnadu for implementing this Tobacco Control Act was the concept of 'Smoke-free educational institutions'. The process for having smoke-free educational institutions was started by the NGOs motivating the school authorities, to ensure that the set of guidelines, which were devised based the COPTA Act, was followed. The institution was later certified as a smoke-free institution, after verification by the government. The role of the stakeholders and the challenges we faced are discussed in this article.