Kerala Raj Bhavan appeared to assume a proactive role in the ongoing fight against drug abuse as Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar spearheaded a meeting with Vice-Chancellors on Monday in a bid to address the growing menace.
The meeting aimed to develop a comprehensive action plan to counter the spread of narcotics in educational institutions.
Governor Arlekar also directed the State Police Chief to submit a detailed report on the ongoing measures being adopted to crackdown on the problem. The Governor is set to convene high-level meetings with senior state officials, law enforcement officers, and Members of Parliament from Kerala to discuss further steps in the coming days, official sources said.
The meeting, which brought together Vice-Chancellors and senior university officials, resolved to launch a slew of initiatives to curb drug abuse and eliminate the supply of narcotic substances from campuses.
The discussions, alluding to the alarming reach of drug rackets, saw the participants acknowledging the “reality” that such trade has infiltrated educational institutions. The participants stressed the urgent need for a sustained campaign to prevent its spread.
A key focus of the meeting was the development of a multi-faceted strategy to combat drug abuse. Awareness programs will play a central role in educating students about the dangers of narcotics. The Kerala University of Health Sciences, along with health professionals, will lead these initiatives.
‘Anti-Drug Days’ will be observed across campuses every month. A variety of programmes will be organised as part of the occasion. The importance of promoting physical and sporting activities in institutions was also emphasised as a means of engaging students and providing alternative, healthy outlets.
To address concerns about the prevalence of drug trade in hostels, which are often seen as vulnerable spaces, efforts will be made to involve parents more actively in the administration of these facilities. Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) could also be entrusted with hostel governance.
The action plan, which will be finalised by Sunday, will be implemented across all universities and educational institutions in the state.
Vice-Chancellors from all universities, except Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU), Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, and Kerala Kalamandalam, participated in the discussions. MGU was represented by its Registrar.
Published – March 10, 2025 08:56 pm IST