Have mechanism to monitor de-addiction centres: govt tells HC

The Centre today told the Delhi High Court that it has a mechanism for monitoring and implementing its scheme for prevention of alcohol and drug abuse under which about 400 de-addiction and rehabilitation centres are being run by NGOs across the country.
The submission was made before a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw by Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain who said about 122 government hospitals across the country have de-addiction centres managed by state governments.
The court was hearing a PIL for monitoring and regulation of drug and alcoholic de-addiction and rehabilitation centres.
The petition was filed by Rajiv Boolchand Jain, who himself claims to be an ex-alcoholic, seeking directions to lay down a "coherent policy and procedures" for drug and alcoholic de-addiction and rehabilitation centres so that they are easily accessible to patients suffering from chronic addictions to narcotic substances and alcohol.

He has prayed that the central government should immediately stop all grants under "Central Sector Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse" as the NGOs are "misusing" these grants for personal gains.
The Centre in its affidavit submitted that it has a formulated the Central Sector Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse and also has a mechanism for its implementation and monitoring.

It also said the National Institute for Social Defence (NISD) and Regional Resource and Training Centres (RRTCs) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment have already issued the Manual of Minimum Standards of Services.

"No instances of inhuman conditions like thrashing, locking up, etc has been noted/reported by the inspection authorities if the state/union territories," the ministry said in its affidavit.
The ministry also submitted it has been giving "grant-in- aid" at an average of Rs 30 crore per year to about 350-400 Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCA) across the country for running, managing and maintaining the de-addiction centres and are not spending Rs 400-500 crore as claimed by the petitioner.