Sukhbir Badal launches comprehensive de-addiction and rehabilitation drive

Chandigarh, June 18, 2014: Punjab Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today announced a comprehensive de-addiction and rehabilitation plan for drug addicts to complement and take the ongoing war against drug smugglers to its logical conclusion.
Addressing a press conference here, the Deputy CM announced that the drug de addiction and rehabilitation programme would start from tomorrow across the State.
Under this programme, drug addicts will be provided medicines free of cost at 141 community health centers across the State. Once they are de-addicted, they will also be offered indoor rehabilitation facilities with 600 beds being created for this purpose in Government Medical Colleges as well as private hospitals.
The Deputy CM announced that the entire programme was being taken up as a war campaign and that the civil and police administration was being involved. “We have appointed ADGP Law and Order Dinkar Gupta and Health Secretary Vinni Mahajan as the nodal officers from the police and civil administration to head this campaign. They will be assisted by Narcotics Control Board head Ishwar Singh as well as senior civil and police officers who will be posted at each district headquarter to monitor the campaign.
Badal said as per the action plan, free medicines would be provided to the drug addicts at the community health centers by a team of trained doctors. He said as the patients would be arriving as OPD patients at the community centers arrangements would be made by the police administration to get them to the centres and leave them back to their villages on a daily basis till they were certified to have been deaddicted. He also suggested Punjab Police could engage private doctors and involve chapters of IMAs and NGOs, if needed.
Badal also asked the Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal, who was present at the press conference, to keep a close check on the drive besides ensuring availability of medicines and presence of health staff at all CHCs.  
The Deputy CM also informed that there was a proposal for establishment of 220 Rehab centers, which would cover all the districts. The Deputy CM also informed that a Special Monitoring Cell of 11 IAS and IPS officers has also been formed to monitor the drive.
Badal said that they have introduced Punjab State Narcotics Control Bureau headed by Inspector General of Police Ishwar Singh. He also appealed the people of Punjab to help the state government by informing about such activities on 181 helpline. He said the people can also give tip off at telephone no 181, SMS at 76961-81181, FAX 0172-6626181, email [email protected] , facebookwww.facbook.com/pages/State-Narcotics-Control-Bureau-Punjab-India.
Badal also informed that Punjab Government was in a constant discussion with Punjab and Haryana High Court to set up a Special Court for the cases pertaining to drugs peddling. He said the government would also confiscate the property of those persons involved in such practices.
On a query regarding exercise of putting the drug peddlers behind the bars, Mr. Badal informed that more than 27000 drug peddlers have been sent behind bars and there were 145 kingpins, who had been caught and put behind bars. He said that no one would be spared, whosoever he may be, if found to be involved in this trade.
Badal also informed they have also formed an Internal Vigilance Cell under the supervision of IG Ishwar Singh.
On the issue of drug seizure Badal said in 2011 there was a huge recovery of 61 lakh psychotropic substances including capsules and other medicines. He said in 2012 this number had increased to 1.14 crore and in 2013 it was 3.65 crore.
When asked about the suspension of police officers involved in drug trades and shielded drug peddlers, Badal said 24 police officials had been dismissed from service and that a DSP had been placed under suspension for being involved with drug smugglers.
IRAQ ISSUE
The Deputy CM informed the media persons that the Punjab Government was constantly in touch with the Union Government and Ministry of External Affairs on the issue of 40 to 50 Punjabis held hostage at Iraq by Islamic fundamentalists. He said today morning Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj rang him up and informed that needful directions have been issued to the Indian High Commission in Iraq. He said Swaraj has also assured that the Indian authorities would ensure the safety and security of all Punjabis made hostages and work to ensure their safe return to India.