Red Cross de-addiction centre in Gurdaspur operating without licence for 18 months

The Red Cross De-Addiction centre is being forced to run without a valid licence for the last 18 months even as its administrators have written numerous letters to the state government.

The centre is unable to procure a vital anti-addiction drug because it does not have valid documents. This is for the first time in the last 30 years that the management is facing such a problem.

The joint licensing authority for drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in Punjab is the Director of Health and Family Welfare along with the Director of Social Security, Women and Child Development.

In a letter written to Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Wednesday, Romesh Mahajan, Project Director of the centre, has lamented that the entity is facing a critical situation for want of renewal of a licence, which is pending with the authorities since August, 2024. “This is despite recommendations by the district inspection committee and the Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner on two occasions,” he said.

The 30-bed centre is located on the Babehali road, 6 km from the city. Amid the ongoing Punjab Government’s anti-drug drive, it has been overwhelmed by heroin addicts. It has also found favour from women addicts. It was established in 1991 and till yet it has treated more than a lakh addicts, both indoor and in the out-door patient (OPD) departments.

Owing to the paucity of an important drug, which is given to addicts, the management has to rely upon alternative sources of medicine.

In August, the Health Minister had visited Gurdaspur and had assured the management that the process of renewing the licence would be expedited. However, precious little has been done till yet.

“Our project is funded by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and money for its operation is not given by the state government. Our centre is treating more than the addicts being treated jointly by the government-run rehab centres and private entities. Even then, we are being deprived of our due,” said Mahajan.

He urged the Health Minister to instruct officials of the Health and Family Welfare Department to issue directions. Incidentally, Mahajan has been conferred upon the national award by the President of India for his services in the field of preventing substance abuse and alcoholism.

In the absence of valid documentation, the financial grant for this year has been halted by the Union Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry.

An official of the district administration said, “We are looking into the matter. We understand that the centre is going through a tough time.”