Students of Mary Rice Centre for Special Education, a unit of the Society for the Welfare of the Disabled, Laitumkhrah took out a rally and signature campaign to observe World No Tobacco Day yesterday.
A total of 60 students, together with the teachers and parents took part in the rally. Placards, posters, props and ringing of bells were used during the rally to engage the public.
The students were first given awareness in the school about the ill effects and dangers of using tobacco prior to the rally. All students participated enthusiastically and shouted slogans and rang bells throughout the rally drawing the attention of shopkeepers, drivers on the road and all passersby.
The rally started from the school along the Laitumkhrah main road towards Fire Brigade junction, Lummawrie and back to the school. The programme ended with a signature campaign.
It may be mentioned that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had issued ‘Guidelines for Tobacco Free Educational Institution’ (ToFEI) in 2019 with the objective of providing fresh momentum to implementation of tobacco control initiatives in educational institutions.
The guidelines lay down roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders viz. Central Government, State Governments, Educational Institutions and Civil Society Organisations for making the Educational Institutions tobacco free. These guidelines need to be implemented by educational institutions, including schools, colleges/ institutes for higher or professional education and universities both in public and private sectors.
