Lack of Rehab Centres at Delhi for the Homeless a Concern

Of the seven government-run de-addiction centres in the capital, only three are functional, with just one having facilities of admitting patients. The de-addiction centres are at National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre at AIIMS, De-addiction Clinic in G B Pant Hospital and Institute of Human Behaviour at Dilshad Garden. Only IHBAS has facilities to admit 60 patients, while the centres at AIIMS and G B Pant hospital with a patient capacity of 175 and 25 respectively, only have OPDs which are of not much help as an addict can relapse. Treatment at these hospitals is free.

“Many women, men and children are keen to undergo drug de-addiction, but have no place to go. Private hospitals charge high amounts and hence out of the reach for Delhi’s homeless, who are addicted to hard drugs. As per unofficial estimates, 15 private hospitals have rehab facilities,” said Indu Prakash Singh of NGO Shahri Adhikar Manch: Begharon Ke Saath.

The non-functional centres are Sahyog Detox Centre, set up by Delhi’s Department of Women and Child Development in 2011 in Saket; Detox Centre for Beggars at Lampur, which was sanctioned by the state Department of Social Welfare in 2010; and one each at the Department of Psychiatry at Safdarjang Hospital and at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

The process for admission in a rehab centre is that a “chemical dependant” is first examined, after which doctors decide whether the person needs to be admitted or not.

The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board has set up a rehabilitation shelter in Kotla Mubarak for the homeless.

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