Steps taken jointly by the School Education Department and Sports Development Department to provide scientific education to rescue the younger generation from substance-abuse habits. Measures taken jointly with the Sports Department to provide scientific training aimed at improving students' physical and mental well-being right from their school years. Information from Hon'ble Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Thiru Athav Arjuna. A consultation meeting was held today, 27.05.2026, at the Secretariat, chaired by Hon'ble Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Thiru Athav Arjuna, in the presence of Hon'ble Minister for School Education, Tamil Development and Information Thiru Raj Mohan, with concerned government officials, on the action plans to be jointly undertaken by the School Education Department and the Sports Development Department as part of the initiative to build a drug-free Tamil Nadu. Following the meeting, the Hon'ble Sports Development Minister stated the following. Since assuming office, the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has been drawing up various far-sighted plans for the progress of Tamil Nadu. In particular, the Hon'ble Chief Minister has been monitoring and taking action to curb narcotics through a special surveillance wing of the Police Department. Further, all necessary steps are being taken to build a drug-free Tamil Nadu and enable the younger generation to become achievers. In this regard, today the School Education Department and the Sports Development Department jointly initiated measures to give children, right from their school years, importance to sport on par with academics. In the current situation, students in schools and colleges can focus on their studies and secure good marks only when they are in good physical and mental health; hence, plans are being formulated to provide scientific education accordingly. As a first step towards this, physical education teachers in all schools will work in coordination with the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority to impart sports science to students. In various sections of their schools, particularly children of fishing communities, who are naturally skilled swimmers, and children of farmers and others engaged in heavy physical labour, who possess the physical stamina suited to long-distance running and other events, will be identified. Steps have been taken to provide such students with sports-science-based training so that they can compete at national and international events and achieve success. Sportspersons who participate in or win at national and international events become eligible for employment in Government and public sector under the 3 percent sports reservation quota. This is what the Hon'ble Sports Development Minister stated. The Hon'ble School Education Minister stated the following: The Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has been paying special attention to the progress of the younger generation. Accordingly, bringing together school teachers, parents and government officials, this initiative has been undertaken to implement scientific education jointly with the Sports Development Department, so as to make school students confident and strong both physically and mentally. Teachers play an immense role in providing quality education to school students, our future pillars, and thereby building a better society. In particular, steps are being taken to give importance to sport on par with academics for students going forward. This is what the Hon'ble Minister for School Education, Tamil Development and Information stated. The consultation meeting was also attended by Thiru Kendeep Singh Pedi, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department; Dr. S. Vijayakumar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce Department; Thiru Pradeep Yadav, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Information Technology and Digital Services Department and Special Programme Implementation Department; Dr. Chandramohan, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, School Education Department; Thiru Vajjan Singh Ra Sawan, IAS, Secretary, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department; Thiru J. Meganatha Chetty, IAS, Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority; and other concerned officials. Issued by: Director, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9