Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga has said that his government was committed to the rehabilitation of people addicted to drugs and alcohol.
Inaugurating the Jordan Centre, a de-addiction cum rehabilitation centre at Sethawn in Kolasib district about 64 km from Aizawl on Wednesday, Zoramthanga said that the government has been making massive efforts to curb drug and alcohol abuse in the state.
He said that under the state’s flagship programme -Socio-Economic and Development Policy (SEDP) Rs 10 crore has been allocated to fight the drug menace and for rehabilitation of drug-affected people during 2019-20.
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However, the measure could not be expedited due to several hurdles, he said.
The chief minister said that drug-affected people would be provided spiritual counselling and sports amenities in the new centre, which will be upgraded in the future so as to enable outsiders to avail the facility.
He added that establishing a peaceful mind, providing treatment, imparting skill-based trainings and delivering the drug affected people from their bondage are among the primary objectives of the Centre.
Zoramthanga was accompanied by social welfare minister K. Beichhua.
The Jordan Centre was started in 1998 as “After Care Centre” and has been renamed in February 2019.
The centre was renovated and reconstructed by the present government to accommodate at least 1,000 inmates.
The state government allocated Rs 9.20 crore for the purpose.
Besides, the Centre has approved 15.46 crore for renovation and upgrade of the centre, of which Rs 7.73 crore was released as the first instalment under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) scheme in March 2020, government officials said.