Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today gave his nod to constitute "Punjab State Board for Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation" under his chairmanship to have better coordination and synergy in the initiatives aimed at eradicating the blot of drug addiction from the state.Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that the other members of the Board would include Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal as the senior Vice Chairman, Health Minister as Vice Chairman besides Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary Health, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Managing Director Punjab Health Systems Corporation, Inspector General of Police (Narcotic Cell) Mr. Ishwar Singh, Advisor Health to Punjab Government Dr KK Talwar, Dr. Ajit Awasthi and Dr D Basu from the psychiatry department PGIMER besides five nominees of reputed NGOs working in the field of drug de-addiction and rehabilitation of the drug addicts.
Likewise, the Chief Minister also gave approval to set up Drug de-addiction and rehabilitation societies in each districts headed by the Deputy Commissioner with Senior Superintendent of Police, Civil Surgeon, District Social Security Officer, Psychiatrist of the district drug de-addiction centre besides 10 nominees from the NGOs entrusted with the task of drug de-addiction and rehabilitation apart from the donors, who contributed for this noble cause. These societies have been mandated to function under the directives from the state board for the eradication of drug menace from the state.
Taking stock of the current scenario for establishing rehabilitation centers in each district across the state, the Chief Minister asked a team comprising Dr KK Talwar along with Dr. Ajit Awasthi and Dr D Basu to identify the sites for these centers besides existing Primary Health centers/ community Health centers which could be utilized for these centers. The inspecting team has been asked to submit the report to the Chief Minister at the earliest.Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also asked the Principal Secretary Health to immediately start such rehabilitation center at Saket in Patiala district on pilot basis, which could be later on replicated in the other existing hospitals available for this purpose.
Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included Cabinet Minister Mr. Surjit Kumar Jiyani, Chief Secretary Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Health Mrs. Vinnie Mahajan, Special Principal Secretaries to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Mr. KJS Cheema and Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Managing Director Punjab Health System Corporation Mr. Hussan Lal, Special Principal Secretary Health Mr. Vikas Garg and Director Health and Family Welfare Dr. Karanjeet Singh.