The Department of School Education, Nagaland has directed all DEO/Sr. SDEO and SDEOs to send notification to all schools under their jurisdiction to display a signboard measuring 3×2 ft near the gate or at the school boundary wall indicating ‘Sale of Cigarettes and other tobacco products within 100 meters of Educational Institution is prohibited and punishable offence under COTPA 2003.
“This measure is being taken to strengthen the tobacco free environment for educational institutes in view of the recent Global Youth Survey which shows that 43% of school students between the age group of 13-15 years are using tobacco in one form or the other. Moreover, this is in consonant with the provision of section 6(b) of COTPA 2003,” stated the Principal Director of School Education, Shanavas C, IAS in a circular.