State-level narcotics control bureau to be set up in Excise dept.: Rajesh

The Kerala government will establish a State-level narcotics control bureau under the Excise department, Minister for Excise M.B. Rajesh announced on Friday.

He was speaking after taking the salute at the passing-out parade of newly trained excise Inspectors and civil excise officers at the State Excise Academy grounds in Poothole, Thrissur. He also distributed the Chief Minister’s excise medals for 2024.

He said the functioning of the Excise academy would be further expanded as part of the efforts to strengthen the department. More than 2,600 appointments had been made to the Excise department during the tenure of the present government.

A total of 134 personnel had now joined the excise force. Taking the oath and entering service, the Minister said was not merely about assuming a job but about accepting a major social responsibility. He added that all the new recruits were highly qualified, with many holding graduate, postgraduate and professional degrees.

The newly inducted personnel include 16 excise inspectors, 71 civil excise officers and 47 women civil excise officers. The Minister also presented awards to trainees who excelled in various aspects of training, along with the Chief Minister’s excise medals.

Among those who completed training are 71 graduates, 20 postgraduates, one MTech degree holder, 24 BTech graduates, one BAMS graduate, one BDS graduate, four BEd graduates and five diploma holders.

A noteworthy moment at the passing-out parade was the participation of siblings M. Ananthu and M. Archana from Alappuzha, appointed as civil excise officer and women civil excise officer respectively, who marched together at the ceremony.

Excise Commissioner M.R. Ajith Kumar and Excise Academy Director T.M. Maju also took the salute at the parade..