India’s fight against tobacco can be won if young people take the lead to challenge social acceptance of tobacco consumption, besides government warnings and awareness advertisements. They should turn the fight into a nationwide people’s movement, Union Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav has said in New Delhi.
Launching the fourth edition of the 60-day Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign (TFYC 4.0) on October 28, at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, Jadhav urged students and young citizens to become ambassadors of a tobacco-free India. He stressed that protecting the younger generation from nicotine addiction was essential to building a healthy and developed nation.
The campaign’s message is: prevention must begin before tobacco becomes a habit. With universities and colleges as the primary focus this year, the initiative seeks to transform educational campuses by offering healthy choices to discourage tobacco.
The challenge remains substantial. According to the Health Ministry, more than 5.8 lakh educational institutions and 73,000 villages were declared tobacco-free during the previous three editions. The latest drive will combine public awareness, stronger enforcement of tobacco control laws, community participation, digital outreach and cessation support.
Jadhav also drew attention to the dangers of tobacco smoke, which contains over 7,000 chemicals, including toxic and cancer-causing substances. Nicotine exposure during adolescence can adversely affect brain development, memory and learning, making early intervention particularly important.
However, the real test lies beyond official launches and pledges. Young people must challenge peer pressure, discourage tobacco use among friends and encourage existing users to seek help to quit. Schools, families and local communities must support this effort.
The message is clear: India’s youth should become the strongest advocates of a tobacco-free generation. It will require collective action, sustained commitment, and a change in social attitudes.
References: Press Trust of India
