DAARCFOM accuses Reborn Rehab Centre of abusing inmate, family members
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 09 2019: Drug De-Addiction & Alcoholism Cum Rehab Centres Forum of Manipur (DAARCFOM) on Friday come out strong against the Reborn Rehab Centre, Wangkhei Thangapat Mapal for 'gross misconduct' and 'abusing' family members of a drug user.

Narrating the story to media persons at Manipur Press Club, Imphal, DAARCFOM secretary Meisnam Pushpakanta said that a drug user named Jacky (not real name) hailing from Kshetrigao was 'detained' by police near Kshetrigao bazar area and later handed over to Reborn Rehab Centre at Wangkhei Thangapat Mapal on January 26 'without' informing the family members.

"Reborn Rehab Centre too 'failed' to inform the parents who were worried about their missing son.

On January 30, an auto-rickshaw driver informed the family members about Jacky being lodged at Reborn Rehab Centre," Pushpakanta said questioning the conduct of the police and the rehab centre.

On learning the whereabouts of Jacky, family members went to the rehab centre but they were denied from meeting him.

When the family members insisted on meeting Jacky to confirm identity, the authority of the centre described the description of the person in their custody and outfit (dress).

They were not allowed to see him.

Based on the description provided, the family members confirmed the it was Jacky, he claimed denouncing the rehab centre for 'abusing' the family members to the extreme.

"The ill conduct of the rehab centre did not end there," Pushpakanta said alleging that the authority of the centre even 'took' Rs 1,500 from the family as 'police charge they (Reborn Rehab Centre) said they gave to the police.

The centre also took an additional Rs 5,500 as mess fee, he added.

Taking mess fee is normal as all other rehab centre too take such fees.

However, the Rs 1,500 they took should be clarified, he said accusing the centre of 'ripping off innocent people'.

After days in the rehab centre, Jacky was diagnosed positive for Hepatitis C and the centre again 'took Rs 2,500' from the family in the name of medical tests, he said informing that treatment for Hepatitis C and medicines are provided for free by the YRG Care, Checkon for rehab centres.

Jacky was released from the centre as per the family's request on May 25.The centre then asked the family to take 2 days of medicine at a time from the centre for the remaining treatment period of 15 days.

Following the advice of the centre, they took medicines worth of two days from the centre.

When the mother fell ill, they requested the centre to give them medicines for the remaining seven days as they couldn't visit the centre.

However, they were denied the medicines, Pushpakanta claimed.

Hepatitis C is a serious case, the centre should have treated the patient/inmate and the family well, he said condemning the 'ill conduct' of the Reborn Rehab Centre in the strongest term.

He also urged the authorities concerned to look into the conduct of the police and the rehab centre to take up actions to prevent such 'atrocities' against innocent people and rehab inmates.

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