Governor calls for urgent university action plans to combat student drug abuse

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has called an emergency meeting of university vice-chancellors to prepare an action plan to prevent the spread of drugs among students. The meeting will be held at Raj Bhavan today at 2:30 pm. The VCs will present possible solutions in the meeting.

The Governor also directed the DGP to implement plans to intensify the drug hunt and block the avenues for drug addiction among youth and students and submit a report. The Governor had asked the DGP for a report on police action against the drug mafia. Subsequently, the DGP had submitted a 23-page report at the end of February. However, the Governor rejected it, citing the need for stronger action. Subsequently, the Governor called the DGP and asked him to prepare an action plan to prevent drug addiction and submit a new report.

Although several announcements were made in the Assembly against drug addiction, the only thing that is happening now is the police's D-Hunt operation. The coordinated work of the excise, police and education departments has not started. The Governor informed the VCs that it is not enough for the police to think only about anti-drug operations and that social progress should also be made. Universities should take the lead in this.

Youth will be informed about the dangers of drug addiction

• The Governor said that the dangers of drug use and addiction should be informed to the students in a scientific manner.
• A scientific awareness campaign will be conducted in all schools by the one lakh students in Kerala University of Health Sciences.
• The ill effects of drug abuse will be included in the school and college syllabus.
• Parents will be made aware of the problems caused by family dysfunction in children.