Delhi recommends NCERT to add tobacco control chapter

Delhi government has recommended to the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to include tobacco control as one of the important chapters in the textbooks of the CBSE and other boards as well. The chapter will be included form class 6th to 12th as a part of their academic subjects.

The letter submitted by the Additional Director of Delhi's Health department S.K. Arora was mentioned that 14.1 percent of students under the age of 15 are currently using various tobacco products. Among which 4.2 percent is consuming cigarette while 1.9 percent are addicted to other tobacco products.

It is also mentioned that among 1,000 teenagers who are addicted to smoking, 500 of them would lose their lives due to the tobacco-related diseases. He even added that the tobacco has been banned, but still, the usage is being increased. Students are the most affected group with the increasing rate of tobacco consumption. Therefore, it is very much important that students, teachers, and parent should take necessary actions. This could be achieved by adding a chapter about tobacco control of the students.

In the letter, it was clearly mentioned that they have been requesting the NCERT to include tobacco control as one of the primary chapters. This could be implemented for both CBSE as well as other educational books from class 6th to 12th.

He also said that the CBSE board is ready to add the chapter in the syllabus, but the final approval should be given by the NCERT. Since the CBSE will prescribe all the textbooks that are only published by the NCERT.

NCERT is an organization established by the government of India in 1961. NCERT has the overall control of assisting and advising the central as well as the state government regarding the policies and programs for the betterment of school education.