The State Tobacco Control Cell on Tuesday inaugurated Puducherry’s first anti-tobacco museum at the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Research Institute (IGMCRI), showcasing the health effects of tobacco and other substance abuse on human organs. The exhibit, which includes live specimens and a human model demonstrating pathological changes linked to substance use, was unveiled as part of a broader initiative to make educational campuses in the Union Territory free from tobacco and narcotics.
Purpose and features of the museum
The museum is designed to provide a visual and clinical demonstration of the damage caused by tobacco and drugs. According to a departmental release, the displays include preserved specimens that illustrate changes in the lungs, liver and other organs resulting from prolonged substance exposure. A specially prepared human model was also unveiled to highlight organ-specific harm, organisers said.
Certificates and collaborative push for tobacco-free campuses
As part of the launch, Director of Health Sevvel presented ToFEI (Tobacco Free Educational Institutions) certificates to encourage compliance with tobacco-control guidelines in schools and colleges. The release said the State Tobacco Control Cell has initiated multiple measures to eliminate tobacco and drug use on educational premises across Puducherry.
The programme was carried out in collaboration with the District Collectorate of Puducherry, the Directorate of Social Welfare and the Department of Community Medicine, IGMCRI. Present at the event were Director of Social Welfare P. Ragini, IGMCRI Director Udayashankar, State Nodal Officer for the National Tobacco Control Programme Venkatesh and State Consultant for NTCP R. Suriya Kumar, the release added.
- Location: Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry
- Main organisers: State Tobacco Control Cell, Health Department
- Collaborating agencies: District Collectorate, Directorate of Social Welfare, Department of Community Medicine (IGMCRI)
- Key activities: museum unveiling, ToFEI certificate presentation, awareness drive for educational institutions
Why this matters locally
Public displays that link visual pathology with substance use are intended to strengthen prevention messaging among young people. Health authorities in Puducherry have signalled that the museum and the ToFEI campaign form part of a preventive strategy aiming to reduce initiation of tobacco and drug use in schools and colleges, and to support early interventions where necessary.
While the release did not specify follow-up enforcement measures, the involvement of the District Collectorate and the Directorate of Social Welfare indicates a co-ordinated administrative effort to back the campaign beyond awareness activities.
Who was present
The launch brought together health and social-welfare officials along with medical-college leadership and tobacco-control specialists. The following table summarises the roles of principal attendees as reported:
| Person | Designation/Role |
|---|---|
| Sevvel | Director of Health — unveiled the museum and presented ToFEI certificates |
| P. Ragini | Director of Social Welfare — present at the event |
| Udayashankar | Director, IGMCRI — represented the medical college |
| Venkatesh | State Nodal Officer, National Tobacco Control Programme |
| R. Suriya Kumar | State Consultant, NTCP |
Practical takeaways for institutions and parents
The ToFEI certification is a recognition mechanism used by tobacco-control programmes to acknowledge educational institutions that adopt and enforce tobacco-free policies. Although the release did not publish the certification criteria, schools and colleges seeking such recognition generally need to implement no-tobacco rules on campus, conduct awareness sessions and offer support for cessation where required.
Parents and educational administrators in Puducherry who wish to engage with the initiative may approach the District Collectorate, the Directorate of Social Welfare or IGMCRI’s Department of Community Medicine for details on certification processes and local activities, the release said.
Next steps signalled by health officials
The Health Department’s launch of the museum and the ToFEI awards marks an early-phase public-health intervention focusing on prevention and education. The release described the museum as one of several steps the State Tobacco Control Cell is taking; however, it did not list a timeline for broader roll-out or enforcement actions across all educational institutions in the Union Territory.
Officials present indicated an intent to continue co-ordination among departments to expand awareness and compliance, while using the museum as a resource for medical students, school groups and community outreach programmes.
