Youth, women and drug-free Tamil Nadu among key focus areas in CM Vijay’s first cabinet meet

Youth empowerment, women’s welfare and the drug-free Tamil Nadu emerged as some of the major priorities discussed during the maiden cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay after assuming office. The meeting, held at the Secretariat on Friday, marked the first major policy discussion of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government and set the tone for its governance agenda in the comig months.

According to Minister for Energy Resources and Law CTR Nirmal Kumar, the Chief Minister introduced 436 projects across various departments and set targets for their implementation. Among the key subjects discussed were programmes aimed at improving opportunities for young people, strengthening welfare measures for women and addressing the needs of the fishing community.

Kumar also said the Chief Minister assigned responsibilities to the ministers to work with officials to prepare detailed roadmap for the projects announced during the meeting. He said the government’s objective is to make Tamil Nadu drug-free, for which, the CM Vijay has instructed the police to intensify efforts against the circulation of banned substances including ganja and synthetic drugs. “More than 24 shops were sealed in Madurai within a week after being identified for selling the prohibited substance”, Kumar informed the media. The illegal selling of narcotic substances had become a concern in recent years.

The minister also said stringent legal provisions, including the Goondas Act, are being used against individuals accused of involvement in the illegal selling of synthetic drugs. The move reflects the government’s intention of taking stricter legal actions against offenders and organised drug networks. The Vijay-led government believes stronger enforcement, combined with sustained administrative action, will be critical in achieving drug-free Tamilnadu agenda.