- By Akansha Pandey
- Tue, 23 Sep 2025 05:21 PM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
Jharkhand's Education Secretary, Umashankar Singh, has directed senior police and administrative officials across all districts to enforce a strict ban on the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products within a 100-meter radius of all schools. He has called for a widespread campaign, including the formation of three-tier raid teams, to ensure compliance with national anti-tobacco guidelines.
In a letter to officials, the Education Secretary cited the authority of a new state law, emphasising that selling tobacco near educational institutions is a punishable offense with a fine of Rs 1,000. This directive is backed by the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Jharkhand Amendment) Bill, 2021, which was approved by President Droupadi Murmu in June, officially making it law.
Broader Scope Of the New Law
The recently enacted law introduces several stringent measures across the state:
- It prohibits the consumption of tobacco products in all public places.
- The 100-meter sales ban is also applicable to hospitals and public offices.
- The legal age for purchasing tobacco has been raised to 21.
- All hookah bars have been banned.
- The general penalty for violations has been increased five-fold, from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000.
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Rationale For The Crackdown
The School Education and Literacy Department has deemed the crackdown necessary due to alarming statistics. Data shows that 5.1 per cent of students in the state between the ages of 13 and 15 are using tobacco. Furthermore, 55 per cent of all tobacco users start the habit before the age of 20.
To aid in implementation, officials have been advised that they can seek technical support from the Socio Economic and Educational Development Society (SEEDS). The directive also serves as a reminder of previously issued guidelines, which prohibit teachers from using tobacco on school premises.