Bishnu Rana

TEZU, Jun 6: The sole rehabilitation centre for opium and other substance addicts in Lohit district which had been in operation at the premises of  Zonal Hospital Tezu since July 2017 has faced an abrupt closure due to lack of government funding.
Confirming the fact, DMO Dr S Chai Pul narrated a tale of neglect on the part of the government. “Since the start of the centre we received only Rs 33.33 lakhs as fund and continued till May 31 last in spite of paucity of fund with the only intention of enabling the addicts to return to normal life,” she said. Under all odds we managed fooding & medicines of the admitted patients, staff salaries and other miscellaneous requirements, but when approached for funds there was lackadaisical attitude  by the authority and  the Nodal Officer Drugs  De-addiction Naharlagun never paid a visit or supported the endeavour,” DMO lamented. The hospital sources also disclosed that they received four beds and sets of utensils for the rehab centre which were not at all its prime requirement.
This only 10-bedded rehab centre has so far successfully treated and rehabilitated around 350 addicts and is widely hailed as a ray of hope for Anjaw, Lohit, Namsai, Dibang and Lower Dibang Valley districts. Despite all constraints, it managed to continue by dint of hard efforts of DMO and SMO-cum-Programme Officer Dr S Towang with active and dedicated support by the members of Brahmakumaris Rajyoga & Education Centre Tezu who made enormous contribution by imparting counselling, meditation and spiritual education. 
It is worth noting that currently there is another rehab centre running at Pasighat General Hospital in East Siang district on OPD mode and the rest 8 sanctioned in various districts of the state have met with the same fate as the Tezu rehabilitation centre. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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