Assam: SOP must for Rehab Centres; Minister Pijush Hazarika Highlights Reforms and Future Plans

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Pijush Hazarika said that it is mandatory for all private rehabilitation centres to follow the SOP issued by the state government. Also, that the central government will be requested to set up a rehabilitation centre in South Kamrup.

This was stated by Minister Pijush Hazarika in reply to a question posed by Congress MLA Rekibuddin Ahmed in the Assam Assembly today during the Question Hour. MLA Ahmed had alleged that the private rehab centres are not providing adequate facilities to the inmates. He said there have been media reports about physical abuse of inmates in some rehab centres. He also requested that a government rehabilitation centre be established in South Kamrup.

In his reply, Minister Hazarika said, “After assuming the charge of minister in the Social Justice and Empowerment department, I had visited a private rehab centre in Guwahati, near the Gauhati Commerce College. During my visit, I was shocked at the conditions in which the inmates were kept. I saw that around 30 inmates were living in a 200 sq ft room. They were only wearing shorts. The kitchen was very unhygienic. Seeing such an atmosphere, I was forced to close down the centre. Then, I asked all owners of the private rehab centres to a meeting and discussed the issues related to the centres. Later, we prepared an SOP, which must be followed by all private rehab centres.”

“According to the SOP, four to five inmates may be lodged in a 200 sq ft room. There should be doctor visits, doctors on call, nurses, and a project coordinator. The inmates should have beds to sleep in, with mattresses, bed sheets, pillows, mosquito nets, etc. There were allegations of bouncers being kept in such centres and the inmates being physically abused. Also, there were allegations that the owners of such centres tried to impose their own religion on the inmates in the name of counselling. This has also been stopped,” the minister said.

He also stated that the Assam government will move the Government of India to establish a rehab centre in South Kamrup.

At present, there are six rehab centres run by the government. Moreover, under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), there are 14 Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCA) run by non-government organisations in the state.

 Also Read: Assam Minister Unveils New SOPs to Enhance Rehab Centers for Drug Addiction

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