Machana Raghunandan calls for ban on tobacco products near schools

Raghunandan said parents often feel helpless as children are exposed to cigarettes and beedis near educational institutions

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Deputy Tahsildar (Enforcement) in the Civil Supplies Department Machana Raghunandan has appealed to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to ban tobacco products near schools and colleges and declare such areas as no-smoking zones. In a letter sent to the Chief Minister’s Office through Begumpet Post Office on Tuesday, the recipient of the Tobacco Control Hero award urged strict enforcement of tobacco control measures in educational surroundings. He said he had earlier written to the President of India and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court seeking stronger national-level action against tobacco access near campuses.

Raghunandan said parents often feel helpless as children are exposed to cigarettes and beedis near educational institutions, despite awareness of harmful effects. He welcomed the state’s anti-narcotics committees in schools as a positive step and expressed hope that banning the sale of tobacco products near schools, colleges and even government offices would make Telangana a model state. He also announced that awareness programmes will be conducted ahead of World No Tobacco Day on May 31. He urged citizens to support strict tobacco-free public awareness campaigns across Telangana state initiatives.