Punjab to bring law for de-addiction centres

CHANDIGARH - Punjab will soon have a law regulating the functioning of drug de-addiction centres to safeguard patients against human right violations and financial exploitation, a state minister said Wednesday.

Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla said 10 beds would be reserved in every civil hospital in Punjab for drug de-addiction patients.

In recent years, there have been several instances of de-addiction centres in the state, especially the private ones, keeping drug addicts in inhuman conditions and illegal confinement. In some cases, drug addict youths have died at these centres.

Punjab is a major transit and delivery centre for drugs coming from Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Even the state government and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the mini-parliament of Sikh religion, acknowledges that drug addiction is rampant in the state, especially among the youth.

Chawla urged religious, social and educational associations to join the campaign against drugs and motivate people against their use.