‘Mayangilla Keralam’ drive boosting anti-drug efforts; over 10,000 cases filed under Operation Thunder, says Excise Minister

Keralam Excise Minister M. Liju has said the Excise Department is pursuing a comprehensive anti-drug strategy under the ‘Mayangilla Keralam’ campaign.

The Minister outlined the four pillars of ‘Mayangilla Keralam’ (Keralam will not be intoxicated) campaign – enforcement, awareness, de-addiction and rehabilitation.

Responding to questions during the Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, Mr. Liju said the campaign’s enforcement component, Operation Thunder, has led to the registration of over 10,000 cases since United Democratic Front (UDF) government assumed office.

Of these, over 4,000 were cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, while more than 5,000 cases were related to the sale of tobacco products near educational institutions. The remaining cases were under the Abkari laws, he said.

Drug-free campuses

As part of its awareness initiatives, the department has declared 27 campuses as drug-free campuses. Programmes are being conducted under the broader awareness initiatives associated with the State’s Vimukthi campaign, with the participation of prominent personalities from sports, politics and other fields, he said.

Mr. Liju said 14 district-level de-addiction centres were functioning in the State. The department was undertaking the necessary steps to appoint psychiatrists at all 14 centres. Efforts are also underway to expand de-addiction facilities to all 78 taluks in the State, he added.

The fourth pillar, rehabilitation, is another area being developed by the department. The Minister said steps are being made to establish rehabilitation centres in collaboration with social organisations that operate in Keralam.