WBCHSE Directs Schools To Take Strict Measures Against E-Cigarettes

Following the Ministry of Education directives, the West Bengal Council of Higher Education (WBCHSE) issued a notice to all affiliated schools to control the use of smoking gadgets at school premises and adjacent areas. Notably, on February 28, the law branch of the school education department instructed the state education council to halt the sale of harmful items. The directive came in response to the teachers writing to the Ministry of Education on Children’s Day about the adverse effects of electronic cigarettes in all forms and the need to have strict laws to ban them.

Under the released advisory Heads of Institutions (HOIs) are advised to take necessary measures to stop the use of E-Cigarettes or Electronic Cigarettes on school promise. It also asked to take strict controlling actions against the availability of such devices in the shops near schools or educational institutions.

What is E-cigarette?

E-cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) usually contain nicotine – the addictive drug in regular cigarettes and other harmful tobacco products. These chemicals are highly addictive and toxic to adolescent and young adult brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s. E-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, or cigars, or even resemble pens or USB sticks and their use is known as ‘vaping’.

What are the concerns?

The teachers expressed their concern about the misleading information about e-cigarettes among the students that these are either harmless or less harmful in comparison to traditional smoking. According to a survey conducted in Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Pune around 89 percent of the children between 14 to 17 years of age are not aware of its harmful impact. The teachers reflected concern over the fact that school premises and children had become a hunting ground for the manufacturers.

Notably, the government has enacted the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarette Act, 2019 to protect people from the harmful impact of smoking electronic gadgets. However, despite the heavy penalties and imprisonment under the law, e-cigarettes are reported to be widely accessible across a range of vendors and general stores.