Deputy Commissioner B. Srinivasan today offered free tool kits of different sorts and skill development courses to the 25 reformed drug addicts who now wish to continue their rest of life by permanently saying good bye to drugs. Deputy Commissioner B.Srinivasan said that these kits are provided to those youngsters who promised to start their life afresh albeit without drugs.While those receiving kits would continue their old jobs—which they had left due to drugs—the 10 others would undergo 3 to 4 months training at different training centers to start their new ventures.Srinivasan said that the district administration is planning to conduct this exercise every month for providing jobs and skill development among the drug addicts who are getting treatment regularly from Government de-addiction centers and OOAT Clinics and want employment for continuing their life without drugs. “We will seek help from big companies CSR funds and the utilization of these funds and activities of beneficiaries will be monitored regularly,” said the Deputy Commissioner.“These addicts were reformed at the drug-de-addiction centers run by the Punjab Government in Bathinda and now they are completely devoid of any urge for drugs,” Srinivasan further said.
He stated that the administration decided to make them busy with some kind of job or work of their own choice and after consultations with them it was decided that they should be offered tool kits with which they could start their respective works. Some of them were earlier mechanics, carpenters, electricians and motor mechanics.They have now also agreed to train more people coming out clean from the drug-de-addiction centers in next few months which will give the motivation to other addicts who also want to continue their normal life without drugs.The Deputy Commissioner gave away the tool kits at a function organized at the Red Cross Bhawan and also offered registration letters to the others whose training course will start within next few days. These former addicts—with majority of youngsters—will undergo training at different government skill centers to learn computer and other courses across the district where the Government has already tie-up with private centers.Among others who were also present during the occasion included ADC (g) Sukhpreet Sidhu, Secretary Red Cross-Darshan Kumar, CSR officer of Guru Gobind Singh Refinery Hardeep Singh, PRO Waheguru Pal Singh, District Social Security Officer Naveen Gadwal.