Shillong, March 22: Meghalaya has emerged as the top-performing state in implementing tobacco control measures in educational institutions, with 86 per cent of schools meeting the Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) criteria, according to officials.
The achievement comes against a backdrop of significant public health concerns. Data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey indicates that nearly 47 per cent of adults aged 15 and above in the state consume tobacco, while around 8,000 tobacco-related deaths are reported annually.
Launched three years ago under the National Health Mission, the initiative focuses on early prevention by targeting school environments. It is being implemented jointly by the state’s health and education departments in collaboration with Sambandh Health Foundation, with the aim of covering all schools across the state.
Under guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, schools must fulfil nine anti-tobacco measures annually, assessed through a 100-mark scorecard. Institutions scoring at least 80 marks are certified as tobacco-free. These measures include installing anti-tobacco signage, organising awareness campaigns, conducting student-led rallies, and enforcing tobacco control norms on campus.
Officials said nearly 10,000 schools participate each year in activities such as rallies and signature campaigns, contributing to broader awareness and behavioural change among students. State ToFEI Nodal Officer Jennyfer Jones Synrem described the milestone as a major public health achievement, while National Tobacco Control Programme State Nodal Officer Nabaneeta D Mawrie highlighted that about 34 per cent of children aged 13 to 15 consume tobacco in some form, citing the Global Youth Tobacco Survey.
Authorities attributed the programme’s success to sustained monitoring and coordination at district and block levels, supported by a digital implementation model developed by Sambandh Health Foundation. The state’s performance is now being viewed as a benchmark for similar initiatives across the country, with efforts underway to extend coverage to all schools.
