MHRC issues SOP for de-addiction centres
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 18 2021: Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has issued guidelines/standard operating procedure (SOP) for drug de-addiction centres operating in the state.

In a letter sent to Manipur Police DGP and social welfare director on August 2, MHRC deputy secretary E Anand Singh said that the Commission has received a number of complaints alleging severe forms of human rights violations in some of the de-addiction centres, Following on ground inspections and consultation with various stakeholders and experts; the Commission has formulated guidelines/SOP for the de addiction centres in state.

Accordingly, the NGOs and de-addiction centres will have to mandatorily register under the existing Act of the Parliament or stale assembly or any other regulation framed for this purpose, it stated.

The guidelines/SOP said that the Social Welfare Department should examine the legal documents and registration certificate of the de-addiction/rehabilitation centre.

No Objection Certificate (NOC) should be issued only after requisite documents and registration certificate are duly examined.

Space, sanitation, hygiene etc, should also be taken into consideration.

Infrastructure and manpower of de-addiction/rehab centre should be taken into consideration in order to accommodate inmates and their effective treatment and no centre should be allowed to treat patients beyond their treatment capacity, it noted.

The guidelines also stated that any referral from police, local club, meira paibi activists, etc, other than the parent or guardian, the patient/drug user should be produced before an executive magistrate or police officer not below the rank of deputy superintendent and free, prior and informed consent of the patient/drug user should be obtained before his/her admission.

Moreover, if the patient/drug user is a minor then the parent/guardian should give free, prior and informed consent to any de-addiction/rehab centre.

Physical and mental torture or any form of rights violation should not be allowed under any circumstances, while any complaint in this regard should be thoroughly inquired, it further said.

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