Drug users & NGOs demand justice, organises mass rally
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Churachandpur, August 08 2011: In continuation of the protest against the brutal killing of T.Goubiakthuam, bearing the rain, about 400 participants from Community Based Organizations of people who use drugs of all districts, civil societies and NGOs demanded that justice should be delivered and detoxification and rehabilitation centers in Manipur strictly adhere to minimum standards of services laid down by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE), Government of India.

Speaking at Mass Silent Rally in Churachandpur today, R.K.Nolinikanta, Convenor, CoNE, said that the network has submitted a letter to the Director General of Police, Government of Manipur, to reinvestigate the death of T.Goubiakthuam, a patient of Bethsaida, a drug de-addiction center in Churachandpur, and also submitted a memorandum to Director, Social Welfare Department to look into the issue of unauthorized rehabilitation centers in the state.

However as of now there is no response from Government but" we will continue our protest till we get justice and the Govt.should ensure that guidelines laid down by MSJE are strictly followed in all centers so that such incidents are not repeated" , he added.

Members of HOPE who visited Bethsaida were told that Goubiakthuam was hurt in a fight, which broke out between patients of the drug de-addiction centre, however there are others outside the centre who said that Goubiakthuam was singled out and beaten.

Rally against the killing of a drug user undergoing rehabilitation in a de-addiction centre in CCpur

The mass silent rally was organised by the Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE), a state-level network of community-based organizations of drug users in Manipur, and its member HOPE, a CBO based in Churachandpur district from Zion Street to the Deputy Commissioner Office and demanding intervention from the Government to enforce these minimum standards services and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Churachandpur today.

The incident took place on July 24.2011, when a fight ensued between two groups; one group wanting to flee the centre and another who wanted to prevent them from doing so.

Goubiakthuam later succumbed to his injuries at Shija Hospital.

HOPE said that the case won't allow to be shelved and justice denied.

"It is not only an affront to our rights as a human being but also gross violation of basic human rights and norms laid down for rehab centers by the government", a HOPE member said.

There are around 11 de-addiction centers in Churachandpur town, including four funded by the MSJE of which one is for female drug users.

Government of India, however it is doubtful if these centers are following the Minimum Standards of Service lay down by MSJE.

Speaking on this issue C.Lian, Secretary, HOPE, said that "Many existing centers in Churachandpur are akin to treatment centers run by untrained staff", he added.

While the MSJE guideline clearly mentions that "Detoxification service should be provided with the rights based approach to make the drug withdrawal safe and comfortable", the practice of chaining patients and solitary confinement without proper detoxification is practiced in a number of rehab centers here.

A recovering drug user who spent four months in Bethsaida said that the centre chain drug users to their bed for the first 15 to 20 days followed by nine months of chaining their legs allowing limited mobility within the centre.

"We were not detoxed or examined by a doctor, I was fortunate, my parents pulled me out of the centre after four months", he said.

A number of Rehabilitation Centers charges hefty amount as security deposit besides regular monthly fee of 2000 rupee.

The patients are provided one bucket of water to each for their daily cleaning and two buckets every week for washing clothes" .

This is clear violation of human rights.

A number of centers in the state are minting money in the name of treatment", said C.Lian, Secretary HOPE, a community-based organization of drug users in Churachandpur.