MHRC invites stakeholders for finalization of SOP for Rehab Centres
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 11 2020: The Manipur State Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has directed the Director of Social Welfare Department, Government of Manipur to take necessary actions thereby inviting different stakeholders before finalization of draft regulation/SOP of Rehabilitation centres and to submit the action taken report on or before September 4.The direction was issued on August 10 following a complaint filed by Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) and USERS' Manipur to the MHRC urging the commission to take the matter of frequent human rights violation in drug rehabilitation centres in the absence of a specific protocol and guideline to be followed by the non-funded privately run drug rehabilitation centres, said a statement of CoNE.

The bodies also urged the department concerned to organize a State Level Consultation inviting various stakeholders including representatives from community-based organization and private rehab centres to seek feedback on the first draft of the State Specific Minimum Standard Protocol for Drug De-Addiction & Rehabilitation Centre before finalizing it, the statement said.

The MHRC in its proceeding mentioned that the complainants have earlier filed a Writ Petition PIL No 32 of 2020 at the Manipur High Court to regulate the Private Rehabilitation Centres existing in the State of Manipur, it said.

In this regard, The High Court of Manipur passed a judgement directing the respondents to frame the regulation if not already done within a period of 3 (three) months from the date of receipt of a copy of the order and ensure proper steps are taken to alleviate the grievance of the drug addicts as stated by the petitioners in social interest, it said.

The MHRC taking serious note of the complaint registered it as MHRC Complaint Case 108 of 2020 under Section 12 of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 and further directed the Social Welfare Department Director to take necessary action thereby inviting different stakeholders before finalization of draft regulation/SoP of Rehabilitation centres and to report his action taken report on or before September 4 .

In the complaint petition addressed to the Commission, CoNE and USERS' Manipur while highlighting the various cases of human rights violation and numerous cases of unwanted incidents, said that the government is planning to make mandatory for every de-addiction centre to follow guidelines and Minimum Standards Service prescribed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, until a State-specific guideline is developed for setting up of De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Centres.

"This, however, will not be a feasible step since what is practicable for Government-funded rehabilitation centres will not be acceptable for privately run rehab centres", it added.

The complaint has been made to the MHRC after the Manipur High Court passed its judgment, and the authorities concerned notified of the court's ruling on July 24, 2020, to expedite the directive of the Court so that the authorities concerned come up with a specific protocol during the said timeline as demanded by the Court.

CoNE and USER Manipur would be filing a contempt case if the direction of the Court is not complied by during the stipulated timeline, the statement continued.

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