Building capacity for tobacco-free schools in rural Maharashtra: the Salaam Mumbai model
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Salaam Bombay Foundation, Tobacco Control & Advocacy, India
Publication date: 2018-03-01
Tob. Induc. Dis. 2018;16(Suppl 1):A301
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KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background and challenges to implementation:
Tobacco is a significant public health risk faced by youth in
rural India. In rural Maharashtra, up to 45.4% of youth use tobacco. India's
tobacco control law, the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (2003) prohibits
the sale of tobacco within 100 yards of school grounds. Still, sale of tobacco is
commonly seen around schools across the state.
Intervention or response:
In 2008, Salaam Mumbai Foundation (SMF) began a tobacco-free schools
initiative in rural Maharashtra. Awareness meetings were held with the Direct
of State Education and District Education Officers to build motivation to
promote the tobacco-free schools programme. District-level workshops were held
with Master Trainers for the Education Ministry. Master Trainers included
training on tobacco-free schools as part of their regular training curriculum.
Once trained, teachers conducted tobacco control initiatives with students. SMF
rewards schools for reaching levels of compliance with the 11 criteria created
in accordance with an education board. Bronze-level awards are given to schools
reaching 4 criteria, silver-level awards to schools reaching 8 criteria and Gold-level
awards to school reaching all 11 criteria.
Results and lessons learnt:
Yavatmal district has 2,137 government run schools. In 2016-17 all
these schools attained the tobacco free status by fulfilling all 11 criteria. Celebrating 31st December 2015 as 'Tobacco Free Life
Resolution Day' 406,384 people at 2,109 Government run schools across Yavatmal
took the oath for Tobacco Free Life. This
has been recorded in the 'Limca book of Records' in
2016.
Conclusions and key recommendations:
Using the
existing infrastructure, Maharashtra's rural teacher training programme has
been a successful and efficient strategy to make schools in the state tobacco
free. Using a graded system to reward schools provides an incentive for schools
to expand compliance and serves as a useful tool for measuring increases in
compliance over time. Maharashtra State Government recognized SMF's work and
felicitated the organization with Mahatma Gandhi Vyasanmukti Award.