The Impressive TimesNew Delhi, June 1: The Ministry of Education marked World No Tobacco Day by recognising schools that have demonstrated outstanding efforts in promoting tobacco-free and substance-free learning environments. During a national-level programme held in New Delhi, the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) felicitated winners of the “Towards a Tobacco-Free Generation: School Challenge 2025”.
The event brought together education officials, school leaders, teachers, and representatives from educational institutions across the country to discuss strategies for strengthening awareness against tobacco and substance abuse among students.
Addressing the gathering, DoSEL Secretary Sanjay Kumar congratulated the award-winning schools and praised the participation of more than 17,000 educational institutions in the nationwide challenge. He stressed the need for schools to play a leading role in creating healthier environments for children and adolescents through continuous awareness and preventive initiatives.
Highlighting the influence of the education system, Kumar noted that schools reach nearly 25 crore students and indirectly impact millions of households, making them powerful platforms for social change. He called for collective efforts to transform the anti-tobacco campaign into a nationwide movement involving students, teachers, parents, and communities.
The programme also witnessed the launch of the Three-Year Action Plan (2026–2029) under the Nasha Mukt Bharat initiative. In addition, the Ministry unveiled the Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya (NMV) Portal, a digital platform designed to track and monitor schools’ progress in implementing tobacco-free and drug-free campus initiatives.
A total of 12 schools were honoured across four categories—Foundational, Preparatory, Middle, and Secondary levels. Winning institutions received trophies along with cash prizes, while 41 additional schools were recognised for their noteworthy contributions towards creating tobacco-free educational spaces.
According to the Ministry, the action plan focuses on strengthening school-level monitoring mechanisms, enforcing drug-free zones around educational institutions, integrating substance abuse awareness into school curricula, and developing multilingual educational materials for students, teachers, and parents.
The initiative also includes teacher training programmes, mental health support systems, early identification of at-risk students, and referral mechanisms to ensure timely intervention. Schools will be supported through structured monitoring frameworks extending from local to national levels.
Speaking at the event, Economic Advisor A. Srija highlighted the government’s long-standing commitment to tobacco control through legislative and policy measures. She emphasized the importance of early awareness programmes for children and adolescents, noting that preventive education during school years can significantly reduce future tobacco and substance abuse risks.
The gathering also featured expert discussions on behavioural change, mental well-being, tobacco control, and the importance of coordinated action involving educational institutions, families, communities, and government agencies.
The Ministry reiterated that creating tobacco-free schools remains a key component of its broader vision of building a healthier, safer, and addiction-free India.
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