Child rights activists in Tamil Nadu are urging the state government to initiate the collection of data on children affected by drugs, including tobacco, and publish an annual report on the matter. The call comes during a State-level consultation on ‘Drug Dependency and Children,’ organized jointly by the Tamil Nadu Forum for Tobacco Control (TNPFTC), Centre for Child Rights and Development (CCRD), and Madras School of Social Work (MSSW). Director of CCRD, Stegana Jency, emphasized the need for collaborative efforts across various departments to address this issue comprehensively.
Activists put forward three demands, including amending regulations to permanently ban chewable tobacco products, currently only annually prohibited, and declaring every school in the state a tobacco-free zone. The initiative aims to combat the adverse impact of drug dependency on children and promote a healthier environment for their growth and development.