Punjab Health Minister Brahm Mohindra on Tuesday issued instructions for all the Civil Surgeons to physically check all the drug de-addiction and re-habilitation centers functioning in their areas to grasp the real time problems plaguing the smooth working of these centres.
Civil Surgeons have been asked to put up a detailed report clearly listing out anomalies and suggestions for streamlining the functioning of these drug de- addiction centres.
“It is the prime job of the Punjab Government to stomp out all forms of drug usage from the State,” said Mohindra adding that the Civil Surgeons would spearhead campaign against drug addiction and they have been instructed to personally check all de-addiction and rehabilitation centres.
“If any of the management of de-addiction centres is found guilty for non-compliance of set rules laid for the operations of these centres, it would be taken to task,” he declared. Castigating the previous SAD-BJP government, the Health Minister said that they had done nothing but lip service for eradicating the drug menace from the State.
“They had simply befooled the Punjabis by making false tall claims of waging war against drug addiction. But in reality, the leaders had promoted drug trade in the State and it is evident from the fact that many of their leaders are facing legal trials for being a party in promoting drug trade in the State,” he said.
The minister said that this is the fact why they had not ensured the proper working of these de-addiction centres as per the set norms laid down by Health Department.
The Health Minister said that after assuming the charge, “I have been monitoring the working of these de-addiction centres on daily basis and serious anomalies have been brought to my notice”. After taking cognizance of these primary reports, now the civil surgeons have been entrusted the task to physically check all these de-addiction centres, he said.