Do or Die! Pinarayi Vijayan Forms ‘Think Tank’ to Tackle Youth Drug Surge and Violence

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has unveiled a game-changing plan to combat the state’s escalating drug crisis and youth violence, announcing the creation of a ‘Think Tank’ to keep a sharp eye on the twin threats.

Speaking at a high-stakes meeting on Sunday, Vijayan also revealed a new web portal for citizens to anonymously tip off authorities about drug sales and use—promising ironclad confidentiality to whistleblowers.

The initiative comes as Kerala grapples with a rising tide of narcotic abuse and aggressive behavior among its youth, a menace Vijayan vows to erase from the state. “Our mission is to save even the last person from this devastation,” he declared, framing the fight as a do-or-die battle requiring both government muscle and public grit.

The meeting, a melting pot of ideas, drew student and youth leaders, film and media figures, educators, parents, and experts to forge a united front against the crisis.

Among the standout proposals: a Teacher-Student Vigilance Committee for every school to spot trouble early, and a Student Guidance Support Programme to steer kids right in schools and colleges.

Experts also pitched boosting physical fitness, crafting a ‘Home Charter’ to blend home-school efforts for personality growth, and weaving a mentoring web with NSS, scouts, SPC, and volunteer crews. It’s a full-court press to turn the tide.

Vijayan didn’t mince words about the stakes. “Drug use and violence among kids threaten society’s core,” he warned, citing UN stats showing global drug users ballooning from 24 crore a decade ago to 296 crore by 2021. “We can’t sit back and call it unsolvable.”

He urged teachers to get trained to tackle students’ mental struggles and pushed parents to let kids mingle with peers rather than lock them away.

This isn’t just talk—Vijayan’s already flagged a massive anti-drug campaign, set to rally every corner of society. Sunday’s powwow, buzzing with voices from youth orgs to cultural heavyweights, was the launchpad. With the ‘Think Tank’ now in play, Kerala’s signaling it’s ready to outsmart the drug scourge—and the violence it spawns—one bold step at a time.