The latest data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey shows that 42 per cent less schoolchildren aged 13 to 15 are using tobacco than ten years ago, reports the Hindustan Times.

The survey, which was first conducted in 2003, was designed to estimate tobacco use of schoolchildren aged 13 to 15 in terms of sex, states and location/management of schools. In this fourth edition of the study, a total of 97,302 students from 987 schools, including 544 public and 443 private schools, participated in the survey. According to the Hindustan Times, it was found that the median age for starting to smoke or use smokeless tobacco was 11.5 years, 10.5 years and 9.9 years respectively. 38 per cent of cigarette users say they picked up the habit before their 10th birthday.
The survey found that tobacco use is higher among boys (9.6 per cent) than girls (7.4 per cent) however, both numbers have come down since the last survey was held in 2009 when 19 per cent of boys and 8.3 per cent of girls used tobacco.
“The more, and the sooner, we create awareness among children about harms due to tobacco use, the better will be the outcomes in terms of reduction in prevalence of tobacco use among children and consequently among adults. Harmful effects of tobacco use should be incorporated in school curricula at various levels starting right from the primary school level,” said Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya, while presiding over the release.