120 schools in U''khand to be declared tobacco-free

Dehra Dun, Jun 8 (PTI) Aiming at restricting youth's access to tobacco products, Uttarakhand directorate of school has asked officials of 6 districts of the hill state to identify a total of 120 schools to be declared as "tobacco- free" zones. In a letter to district education officers of Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Nainital, Udhamsingh Nagar, Haridwar and Pithoragarh, Director of school Education C S Gwal has directed them to identify 20 schools per district for the purpose so that they can be declared as "tobacco free" zones. The government has issued directions on the initiative of Health Related Information Dissemination Among Youths (HRIDAY), a vouluntary organisation engaged in advocacy, awareness, education and research related to tobacco control and Academy of Management Studies (AMS), a management consulting company. Earlier, the two bodies had urged the school directorate to declare schools in Uttarakhand as tobacco-free zones and comply with the Central Board of Secondary Education guidelines which mandates that all schools and should be notified as tobacco-free.