Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister C. M. Vijay led a state-wide pledge on Tuesday at Presidency College in Chennai to promote a drug-free Tamil Nadu. Over 2,000 students from 73 educational institutions participated in the event.
The initiative was organized by the state’s home department as part of efforts to tackle drug abuse. CM Vijay also launched a “Drug and Tobacco-Free Campus” program. Under this program, new students will learn about the dangers of drug use, penalties under the NDPS Act, school disciplinary actions, and available counseling services.
Schools and colleges will host anti-drug events like annual pledges, street plays, competitions, parades, and visits to de-addiction centers following a guidebook. Anti-Drug Clubs will be strengthened through member training and by appointing Peer Ambassadors to help students with early signs of drug use.
Police officers will work closely with educational institutions to quickly address drug trafficking issues. Students can report drug abuse using the Drug-Free TN Mobile App, according to officials.
Via video conference, CM Vijay watched the destruction of 100,000 kg of seized narcotics and banned tobacco products in four locations: Chengalpattu, Thanjavur, Coimbatore, and Tirunelveli.
The Chief Minister also awarded 15 police personnel with the “Chief Minister’s Police Medal – 2026” for their efforts in fighting drug production and trafficking. He presented awards to the top three anti-drug clubs and volunteer groups for their work in reducing drug use.
Among those present were Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar; Additional Chief Secretaries K. Manivasan, Dheeraj Kumar, and P. Chandramohan; and DGP Magesh Kumar Aggarwal.