De-addiction centres suffer due to fund crunch

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 21

Haryana, it seems, is finding it tough to rehabilitate its drug addicts. The Ambala centre was closed due to want of funds. While the state has blamed the Centre for the non-release of grant-in-aid, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked it to specify whether the demand for the same had even been forwarded to the Centre or not. As the issue came up for resumed hearing, an affidavit by Honorary General-Secretary of Haryana State Council for Child Welfare Santosh Atreja was placed before the Bench of Justice Rajive Bhalla.

Taking the affidavit on record, Justice Bhalla asserted that the it revealed “a shocking state of affairs”. The officer deposed that the rehabilitation centre at Ambala was closed down on March 20 for the failure of the UOI to provide grant-in-aid to the extent of 75 per cent. As a result, not only the addicts were rendered without recourse, but the employees also were left without salary and jobs. The situation at the Rewari centre was no better. The employees were not paid since December 2014. Rather, the part-time doctor’s salary had not been paid since October 2013.

The salary to the staff of the Kaithal de-addiction and rehabilitation centre had not been paid up to March 2014.

The centre at Sirsa remained closed from July 13, 2012, to September 1, 2013, due to non-receipt of license under the Haryana De-addiction Rules, 2010. The centre at Kurukshetra was also suffering from the same malady. Justice Bhalla also noted that the District Council, Narnaul, had requested for a loan for the payment of arrears of salary, which has been provided by the State Council. “The counsel for the State of Haryana will have instructions whether the demands for grant-in-aid have been forwarded to the Centre. The counsel for the Union of India is directed to seek instructions whether it has decided not to release any more funds,” Justice Bhalla said. The case will now come up for further hearing after the summer vacations.