*Sh Gupta interacts with the patients rescued from three rehabilitation centers being run illegally in the district*
*Sh Gupta meets Home and Health Minister, Sh Anil Vij regarding irregularities in de-addiction and rehabilitation center in village Madawala,—- Sh Vij assures vigilance inquiry*
*A 100 bedded de-addiction and rehabilitation center should be opened in each district – Sh Gupta*
Panchkula,
Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Sh Gian Chand Gupta said that he has taken up the matter of irregularities in drug de-addiction and rehabilitation center in village Madawala, Pinjore with Home and Health Minister, Sh Anil Vij yesterday who assured him of a vigilance inquiry into the case. I met Sh Anil Vij yesterday and submitted to him the report about the Madawala case and the copy of FIR, added Sh Gupta.
Sh Gian Chand Gupta informed this while interacting with the media persons at Civil Hospital, Sector – 6 where he had come to meet the patients who were rescued from three rehabilitation centers being run illegally in the district. Forty three patients were rescued yesterday from the rehabilitation centers in Barwala, Mauli and Bataud.
*A special campaign should be launched to inspect all drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centers being run in the State*
Sh Gupta said that during his meeting with Home and Health Minister, he emphasised that a thorough investigation should be conducted into the Madawala case and stern action should be taken against those found guilty. He said that it is a matter of investigation whose protection the operators of such centers are getting. A special campaign should be launched to inspect all drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centers operating in the state. Sh Gupta said that he would soon meet Chief Minister, Sh Manohar Lal and request him that a 100-bedded de-addiction and rehabilitation center should be set up in each district of the State. Besides, de-addiction and rehabilitation centres being run by the private operators should be banned.
*Illegal drug de-addiction centers are making people addicted to drugs *
While expressing concern, Sh Gupta said that he has observed that instead of making people free from drugs, the illegal drug de-addiction centers are making them addicted to drugs. He said that similarly, rehabilitation centers are being converted into torture centers where patients are treated inhumanely and tortured. Sh Gupta said that during a surprise inspection of de-addiction and rehabilitation center in village Madawala of Pinjore recently, he found that certain medicines were being given to the patients which made them addicted to such medicines. Apart from this, medicines which are banned are given to the patients without a doctor’s prescription. Also, the medicine which is available in the market for Rs. 140, was being sold at this center for Rs. 390 per strip. Sh Gupta said that he found 20 to 25 persons at the Centre who have become addicted to taking these medicines. Most of them were truck drivers, laborers and other workers, he added.
*All drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centers in the district should be inspected regularly*
Sh Gupta said that Prime Minister, Sh Narendra Modi has started a campaign to make India drug free by 2030. Apart from this, yesterday itself Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal has started a programme to make Haryana drug free. Sh Gupta said that he has also given seven concerns to make Panchkula more clean, green and beautiful and drug-free Panchkula is one of these concerns. The District administration, especially the police, has an important role in the success of this campaign, he said, adding that regular inspection of all drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centers operating in the district should be carried out. If still irregularities are found in these centres, then the concerned officers will not be spared, asserted Sh Gupta.
*Patients rescued from the illegal rehabilitation centers thanked Sh Gian Chand Gupta*
The patients who were rescued from illegal rehabilitation centers thanked Sh Gian Chand Gupta and said that they have got a new life. Narrating their ordeal, they told Sh Gupta that they were beaten up and tortured several times in these rehabilitation centers. Apart from this, they were forced to cook food and also do cleaning work in the Centre. About 20 people were kept in the same room. They were neither allowed to go out nor allowed to meet anyone. They were kept imprisoned in the room by locking the door from outside. The patients told Sh Gupta that there was neither any doctor nor any kind of medicine given to them.
*In case of any health related problem, go to your nearest government hospital*
While interacting with the patients, Sh Gupta asked them to stay away from drugs. He said that the youth can stay away from drugs by channelizing their energy into sports. Drugs not only adversely affect one’s health, but also destroy one’s whole life. He also interacted with the family members of the patients and said that in case of any health related problem, they should first go to the nearest government hospital. He said that free medicines are provided to patients in government hospitals.
Deputy Commissioner of Police , Sh Sumer Pratap Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Smt Varsha Khangwal, Civil Surgeon Panchkula, Dr. Mukta Kumar, Dr. Gagan Singla, Councilor Sh Harendra Malik, Member of District Grievance Redressal Committee Sh B. B Singhal, doctors and staff members were also present on this occasion.
EOM