BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: Easy access and cultural normalization of varied tobacco products influence initiation among adolescents in India. Implementation of tobacco-free educational institution (ToFEI) guidelines under India’s National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) can be challenging for rural school authorities without funding and guidance from experts in tobacco control. Targeted intervention through non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at the grassroots in partnership with the education department at the district level will create a snowball effect in making schools tobacco-free.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: In 2010, Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation (NSF) instituted a Grant Award in collaboration with Salaam Mumbai Foundation (SMF) as its technical partner to implement ‘tobacco-free school programme’ in districts of rural India. With a two-year grant cycle, NSF has funded 35 NGOs in 12 states of India through a rigorous selection process building sustained involvement of the grantees in the field of tobacco control. A common activity-based budget is allocated also covering human resources, travel and administration costs.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: NGO grantees have trained 180343 teachers, 247540 stakeholders (school principals, village heads, police etc), sensitized 1562059 community members, organized 4826 tobacco-free campaigns (rallies, competitions etc.), and declared 1867 schools tobacco-free using ToFEI scores. NGOs acknowledged the award as a seed fund to initiate work in tobacco control. 18 NGOs joined district-level committees of the NTCP, 13 won awards from state and central agencies. Pressure to complete the school curriculum by education departments and interference from local politicians and tobacco vendors were barriers to implement ToFEI guidelines. Almost all NGOs integrated tobacco control within their routine work while found it difficult to garner sufficient funding for scaling their work.
CONCLUSIONS: The grant model can be scaled for high reach with minimal funding, exploring co-funding and technical partnerships to induct small organizations in tobacco control. Active involvement from the funding organization can lead to the optimization of the grant.