Privately run rehab centres cry foul
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 09 2020:
Different organisations have expressed their discontentment with the decision of the Social Welfare Department thatprivately run de-addiction and rehabilitation centres should register under the department and to follow guidelines as provided by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
Maibam Jogesh, president Society for Effective Response Manipur (User Manipur) said, this directive of the Government is in clear violation of order given by Manipur High Court on July 23 to frame a minimum standard rules/guidelines for privately run de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in Manipur within three months to which the Department of Social Welfare gave assurance to.
He added that the Court order came as a result of a PIL filed by User Manipur and Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) in light of reports of various incidents in rehabilitation centres including human rights violation and even death in some cases.
He added that currently 21 rehabilitation centres are being run under grants received from the Ministry and they have capacity to accommodate 420 people in one course, while there are 50 privately run centres which can accomodate more than 3000 people in one course without any grants or funding from the State Government or the Ministry.
Maibam Jogesh said, making a draft minimum standard rules/guidelines can be made within 15 days if the people who have worked more than 30 years in the field are roped-in and it was not acceptable that the same rules made by the Ministry for rehabilitation centres receiving large sum of grants will also be applicable to privately run rehabilitation centres.