Shillong, Dec 2: The Meghalaya government has announced plans to establish 15-20 new rehabilitation centres by 2025. Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh revealed the ambitious plan while addressing growing concerns about the lack of government-run facilities in the state.
“We are working on a proposal to have at least 20 additional government-owned rehabilitation centres by 2025. This step will significantly enhance our capacity to address substance abuse within the state,” Lyngdoh stated.
Currently, many families in Meghalaya are forced to send their loved ones battling substance abuse to rehabilitation centres in other states due to a shortage of local facilities. This has led to concerns about the safety and quality of care provided in such centres. Highlighting this, Lyngdoh acknowledged, “The lack of government-owned facilities compels families to seek help outside the state, where conditions can often be uncertain. Our goal is to eliminate that dependency by significantly expanding our infrastructure.”
The minister also outlined the state’s existing efforts, stating, “We are already funding nine centres owned and run by private institutions, in addition to partially or fully supporting several church-based centres. However, we recognize that the current facilities are insufficient, and we are committed to addressing this gap.”
Inquiry into deaths in Assam rehabilitation centres
The announcement comes amidst an inquiry into the suspicious deaths of two youths from Meghalaya—Rickelson Jyrwa and Meban Syndor—at rehabilitation centres in Assam. Jyrwa and Syndor were undergoing treatment at Better Living Wellness Foundation in Mangaldai and Alive Again Foundation in Chandrapur, Guwahati, respectively.
The Meghalaya government has sought reports from the Assam government regarding the incidents. “We have written to our counterparts in Assam, and our Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills has also sought a report. I’ll be reviewing this specific incident shortly,” Lyngdoh stated.
Recently the Meghalaya Users Forum (MUF) had raised serious concerns, alleging that Syndor’s body was handed over to his relatives without police involvement or a post-mortem examination.
Lyngdoh emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing such issues. “In the earlier case of reported ill-treatment in Mizoram, we intervened. This time as well, we have written and spoken to the authorities in Assam. We are taking this matter seriously and will act accordingly based on the findings of the inquiry,” he said.
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