Meghalaya Government Plans to Expand Rehabilitation Facilities by 2025

SHILLONG: Plans for establishing around 20 rehabilitation centers in the state by the year 2025 have been outlined by the state government of Meghalaya.

This has been attributed to Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh, who added that efforts were being put forward within the department to finalize the proposal of expanding rehabilitation services.

Currently, the state is reportedly hosting about 10 rehabilitation centers. Because of these few facilities, many victims of substance abuse have had to look for help in other neighboring states. The minister mentioned that the existing centers include nine privately managed institutions, while others such as church-based facilities are government-sponsored either fully or partially.

Lyngdoh was quoted as saying that the government had not abandoned these institutions to address the challenges of substance abuse on their own. However, he acknowledged the pressing need for more centers and assured that 15–20 new facilities would be operational by 2025.

In a related development, reports surfaced of alleged harassment of youths at a rehabilitation center in Assam known as the Alive Again Foundation. The Meghalaya government is said to have taken the matter seriously and reached out to its Assam counterpart for a detailed report. Lyngdoh stated that the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner had also contacted the concerned department in Assam to gather more information on the issue.

The minister assured that a review of the particular case was on the anvil. He said that the state government had a track record of acting fast in such cases, referring to a similar incident that had been reported earlier in Mizoram. Lyngdoh said that the Principal Secretary of Meghalaya had already spoken to Assam authorities and confirmed that he would personally review the matter within hours.

This commitment reflects the government’s determination to address both the immediate concerns around rehabilitation facilities and the broader issue of substance abuse in the region.

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