Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 24 October 2025
A one-day orientation and field-based evaluation programme on the Tobacco Free Educational Institution (ToFEI) School Challenge 2025 was organized under the Science Wing of the Directorate of Education at Shiksha Sadan, Sri Vijaya Puram.
Inaugurating the programme, Mr. Ram Pravesh, Deputy Director of Education (Science), highlighted the significance of the ToFEI campaign, stressing the collective responsibility of teachers, health professionals, law enforcement authorities, social welfare officials, and community members in safeguarding minors and youth from the harmful effects of tobacco use.
The session featured expert resource persons including Dr. Satyajit Halder, State Nodal Officer, National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), Directorate of Health Services; Mr. A.K. Biswas, Probation Officer, Directorate of Social Welfare; Mr. Manoj Lal, Sub-Inspector, Anti-Narcotics Unit, A&N Police; and Mr. K.V. Sreerag, Consultant, NTCP.
Participants from all three districts, along with four representatives each from South Andaman and Wimberlygunj Zones, actively engaged in the training. As part of the field component, attendees visited Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Middle Point, where two participant groups conducted a self-evaluation scorecard exercise based on ToFEI guidelines to assess the school’s compliance and progress toward achieving tobacco-free status.
The initiative aimed to strengthen inter-departmental collaboration and promote the creation of tobacco-free educational environments across the Islands.
