Delhi Women and Child Department Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam on Sunday launched a campaign against drug and substance abuse in Delhi in a programme organised by the Women and Child Department.
In his inaugural remark, the Minister underlined the need for regular coordination of all stakeholders for a meaningful contribution to make a difference at ground level.
The Minister while voicing his concern on the subject expressed his hope that a collaborative effort now being triggered with this program can see more intensive engagement with various sections of the community.
He also suggested that Madhu K Garg, Secretary (WCD) and Dr Rashmi Singh, Director WCD should continue to have regular meetings with all the stakeholders and also have an expert committee constituted for sustained and focussed effort to combat the problem of drug and alcohol consumption.
On the launching of the program, representatives of partner organisation including Professor Atul Ambekar, AIIMS, Dr Deepak, IHBAS, Gautam Manon, DSLSA, and Dr Rajesh of SPYM also shared their action plan for the year which covered setting up of counseling centers at all the 11 districts courts by DSLSA and other measures for bringing awareness and sensitisation on the subject. The representatives of Narcotics Control Bureau, Crime Branch of Delhi Police also shared their experience and expressed commitment to control the supply of drugs.
Professor Atul Ambekar of AIIMS introduced the project on enhancing treatment and rehabilitation services for underprivileged homeless people affected by drug use, where the focus will be on developing innovative modules of service delivery. Services for de-addiction and counseling will be provided to the affected people at their place of stay.
Under another project, professional cab drivers who are among the prominent groups highly susceptible to misuse of alcohol for reasons such as reducing sleepiness or increasing willingness for work and socialisation will be sensitized on harms and consequences of misuse, repercussion of drunken driving and about the myths and facts related to alcohol consumption, the government said in a statement.
The expertise of IHBAS, AIIMS and RRTC shall be utilized for capacity building of medical, paramedical and other staff engaged in providing counselling and de-addiction services to the drug users, it said.