In a significant move to strengthen its campaign against drug abuse, the Shimla District Administration held a comprehensive meeting with operators and representatives of local drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres at Bachat Bhawan. Chaired by Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap, the meeting focused on enforcing mandatory compliance with operational norms, upgrading patient care, and eliminating loopholes across all rehabilitation facilities in the district.
Emphasizing that de-addiction facilities serve as crucial institutions for social service rather than commercial ventures, DC Anupam Kashyap made it clear that non-compliance or negligence will invite strict legal action. Addressing growing concerns over reports of illicit substances being supplied within treatment facilities, Kashyap called such acts a serious betrayal of families seeking help for their children. He mandated that every institution maintain a completely safe, drug-free, and humane environment designed to uphold patient dignity and long-term recovery.
Highlighting law enforcement measures, Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh warned that if any drug trafficking or illicit supply is traced back to a de-addiction centre, severe criminal cases under the NDPS Act will be registered against the facility’s owner, carrying penalties of up to 10 years of imprisonment. SSP Singh urged all stakeholders, civil society, and educational institutions to collaborate closely to ensure both strict policing and holistic rehabilitation work in tandem.
During the meeting, health officials outlined the standardized minimum operational benchmarks. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Yashpal Ranta and Dr. Kushal Verma detailed the division of facilities into three clinical categories—ranging from short-term detoxification and long-term rehabilitation to specialized psychiatric care. Adherence to World Health Organization (WHO) protocols, mandatory medical and psychiatric evaluations prior to admission, 24/7 emergency doctor availability, full-time qualified counsellors, and strict adherence to patient privacy under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 were laid out as non-negotiable standards for all operating centres.
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