Thiruvananthapuram: Slammed by the Opposition parties in the Kerala Assembly Monday for failing to check the spiralling murders, violence and rampant drug abuse involving students, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that he will be convening a high-level consultation involving a wide range of stakeholders to tackle the growing menace.
The consultation will bring together teachers, parents, student organisations, social and cultural figures, media representatives, political parties, and other key players to formulate an action plan.
“This is not just a law and order issue. It is a deep-rooted social problem that demands immediate attention and a comprehensive approach,” the Chief Minister said, calling for a multi-faceted strategy.
The announcement came after a sharp exchange of words in the Assembly on an adjournment motion filed by senior Congress leader and MLA Ramesh Chennithala, who claimed that Kerala was becoming a “Colombia” of drug cartels.
Opposition Leader VD Satheesan said drugs were accessible to even school-going students “within 15 minutes” in any part of the state.
Cutting across party lines, lawmakers said the impact of brutal violence depicted in current movies in Malayalam cannot be overlooked. The CM concurred and urged the censor board to scrutinise such content. He was responding to a recent incident where Mohammed Shahabas (16) was killed by a gang of students in Kozhikode district.
The CM said films and video games that normalise violence could be influencing children negatively. "There have been reports of children associating with rowdy gangs, similar to how students in a film (Fahadh Faasil starrer ‘Aavesham’) joined a gang to settle scores.
Members also spoke at length about the changing parenting styles and the ease with which students escape with murders knowing well that juveniles cannot be punished harshly. Members pointed out to cases where students who committed murders are now roaming freely.
Warning about the risks of digital addiction, the CM said children are increasingly retreating into digital spaces as parents become engrossed in their own lives. "When parents try to intervene, children may see them as adversaries. Digital addiction is a major issue today, and we must address it before it worsens," he said.
