Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Jun 7: The first Cabinet meeting of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was held at the Secretariat on Friday, during which a roadmap for implementing development initiatives across various departments was discussed.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Energy Resources and Law Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar said the Chief Minister had introduced 436 projects covering multiple sectors and set specific targets for each department.

According to the minister, the meeting, which lasted for more than an hour, focused on key priorities including youth empowerment, women's welfare, the development of the fishing community and efforts to make Tamil Nadu a drug-free state.

"The Chief Minister has introduced around 436 projects across departments and clearly defined targets for each of them," Kumar said.

He added that ministers would now hold consultations with officials of their respective departments to prepare detailed action plans and implementation blueprints. Once finalised, the government will move to execute the projects at the earliest.

On anti-drug initiatives, Kumar said the government had already closed 717 state-run liquor outlets as part of its efforts to curb substance abuse.

"Our ultimate goal is a drug-free Tamil Nadu. The Chief Minister has issued strict directions to the police department to completely eliminate the drug menace," he said.

The minister also stated that authorities had intensified action against the sale of banned products such as gutkha. In Madurai alone, more than 24 shops were sealed within a week for allegedly selling the prohibited substance.

He further said that the Goondas Act was being invoked against those involved in the sale and distribution of synthetic drugs as part of the government's crackdown on narcotics.