The Centre will "soon" start 26 de-addiction cum rehabilitation centres across Punjab to curb the menace of drug abuse, Union Minister Vijay Sampla said today.
"The first such centre would start functioning at Hoshiarpur on June 26, the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The next centre at Jalandhar would be started in July," the MoS for Social Justice and Empowerment told PTI.
"The buildings for these centres are ready. The few remaining technical aspects would be completed soon. The state government has been very cooperative in this endeavour," he said.
The minister said people of Punjab, especially the youth, have fallen in the trap of drug menace and these centres are being established to bring them back to the mainstream.
He said the along with de-addiction treatment, those who get admitted to these centres would be connected with yoga and spirituality.
"These centres would also provide meals to people, and following therapy, emphasis would be laid on personality and skill development. Those admitted would be provided vocational training at these centres," said Sampla, who is the MP from Hoshiarpur.
He said the government would offer loans to those willing to start their own enterprise after treatment so they do not feel "alienated".
While insisting that 24 centres, besides those at Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar, would be started "soon", Sampla said the next priority would be northeastern states.
"Thereafter, such centres would be started in states grappling with drug abuse," he said.
