Special campaign against drugs in Kerala schools from next academic year, says CM

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announces special campaign in Kerala schools to combat substance abuse, emphasizing the role of teachers.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that a special campaign will be launched in Kerala’s schools from the next academic year to curb substance abuse.

He was opening a public event at the Muthalakkulam Ground here on Saturday (February 15, 2025) evening as part of the ongoing State conference of the Left-leaning Kerala School Teachers Association (KSTA). Mr. Vijayan said that drug abuse was turning out to be a severe social evil and a challenge. “A big mafia is at work to lure students towards drugs and also to use them as their carriers. Teachers should take this issue seriously. Steps should be taken to save children who have fallen into the trap. While doing so, it should be ensured that their self-prestige is not hurt,” he pointed out.

Mr. Vijayan said that family members too should be taken into confidence. The respective local bodies, parent-teacher associations, and local body institutions also should be made part of efforts to root out drug menace, he said.

The Chief Minister also exhorted teachers to focus on children who needed special attention and care. He said that just completing portions in the syllabus was not their only job. They also need to support students who need help, he added.

Later, Mr. Vijayan launched Teachers’ Brigade, a team of around 2,000 members of the KSTA, who will be trained to work as volunteers in emergency situations. The KSTA members earlier took out a rally from the Kozhikode beach. The State conference was inaugurated on February 14 by academic Ram Puniyani.