Chandigarh, 12.05.2026-A Youth Action for Tobacco-Free Campuses Campaign was launched by Dr. Suman Singh DHS Chandigarh in Government Multi Speciality Hospital Sector 16 Chandigarh. This was being held by Department of Health and FW, Chandigarh UT and Strategic Institute for Public Health Education & Research (SIPHER), supported by WHO SEA and in collaboration with GSA Mohali and RCTC PGIMER, Chandigarh

She elaborated that the World No Tobacco Day campaign is being held in the month of May 2026 and The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the theme for World No Tobacco Day 2026 (May 31) as “Unmasking the appeal – countering nicotine and tobacco addiction”. This campaign aims to expose how the industry targets children and adolescents with attractive, modern products like e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches.

She added that the key aspects of the 2026 campaign includes, Focus on Youth Protection, Highlighting how new tobacco/nicotine products are engineered to hook a new generation with flavours and sleek designs, Countering Industry Tactics, Exposing industry tactics that disguised products as "innovative" or "harmless". Policy Action, Advocating for stricter regulations on advertising, flavouring, and packaging to reduce the attractiveness of these products. Rising Crisis, addressing startling data showing that at least 40 million children aged 13–15 globally use tobacco products, with an estimated 15 million in that age group using e-cigarettes. This theme continues the 2025 focus on exposing the industry, specifically strengthening the push toward "countering" the addiction caused by these evolving tactics

Dr. Rakesh Gupta, President & Director of Public Health, Strategic Institute for Public Health Education & Research (SIPHER) told that, Tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of disease and premature death worldwide. Adolescents and young people are particularly vulnerable to initiating tobacco use due to peer influence, easy access to tobacco products, and limited awareness about the associated health risks. He added that during the month long campaign, a mobile publicity van equipped with audio-visual facilities will be deployed for 15 days to extend campaign outreach beyond about 16 Educational Institute campuses, covering all the important public places in Chandigarh.

He said that the Objective of the campaign is to Support EIs in implementing Tobacco-Free Educational Institution (ToFEI) guidelines, to Increase awareness among students, teachers and communities about the harmful effects of tobacco and to strengthen compliance with COTPA and other related law provisions to curb tobacco/nicotine product sale near educational institutions. The Proposed Activities were Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on Strengthening Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions and better enforcement of relevant anti-tobacco and Nicotine laws, Educational Institutes based Youth Leadership Programme for Tobacco-Free Campuses and the Mobile Public Awareness Campaign through Audio-Visual Outreach Van. Activities through the van will include audio announcements on tobacco harms, short educational audio-visual clips, display of campaign posters and banner, interaction with students and community members.