Haryana Govt. framing ‘Rehabilitation Policy’ focusing skill development of ex-drug addicts

Chandigarh: In Haryana, where around 17,000 drug dependents visit a total of 53 de-addiction centres annually, state government is framing a rehabilitation policy by providing them skill development training. Panchayati Raj Institutions are also being involved to check the drug menace.The social justice and empowerment department has forwarded the proposed policy to chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar for final clearance.”A committee is being constituted under principal secretary of social justice and empowerment department for finalizing the policy for rehabilitation of former drug addicts. The committee would be notified in a day or two,” said social justice and empowerment department principal secretary Amit Jha.

The expert group working on the policy includes Dr B S Chavan, head of psychiatry department at Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh, and Dr Aditya Kaushik, deputy director of social justice and empowerment department. Senior officers of skill development and industrial training department, ITI department, and Indian Red Cross Society would also be part of the committee.There is a proposal to set up a rehabilitation board to monitor implementation of various state policies. It has been recommended that the additional chief secretary of home department be made the nodal officer to ensure compliance of various courts directions.Haryana jails department has proposed to open two drug de-addiction centres in this financial year in Hisar Central Jail and Rohtak District Jail.

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