Drinking habit increasing among youth in Kerala: Vijayakumar

Thiruvananthapuram, July 18 (UNI) Kerala Sports and Youth Affairs Minister M Vijayakumar today informed the State Assembly that consumption of liquor among youths was increasing, while smoking habit was decreasing sharply in the state.

Since total prohibition of liquor was not possible in the state, a solution in this regard could be found only though awareness campaigns by voluntary organisations, he said while responding to questions from Mr V Sasikumar (CPM) and others.

Stating that the government would constitute ''Swayam Sevak Sangams,'' a youth action force in all the districts to carry out relief activiites during natural calamities, he said 1000 members would be in each group.

Mr Vijayakumar said the government would formulate a comprehensive Youth Policy. The draft copy of the policy had already been prepared and the same would be implemented only through consensus.

Claiming that the Youth Fair, organised in connection with the Kerala Youth Forum here recently was a success, he said 646 youths succeeded in getting jobs in the fair, out of 8,500 job aspirants who appeared for interview.

Twenty-nine companies, including from foreign countries participated in the fair, he added.

The Minister informed that Youth Centres, aimed at imparting training to unemployed youths had started functioning in 575 panchayats. The scheme would be implemented within one year in all the panchayats of the state.

It had come to the government's notice that the terrorists were luring youths to carry their activities by offering money and vehicles, he said and suggested that proper awareness was required to free them from their clutches.

UNI