'De-addiction centres in DK face fund crunch'

Delay in the release of Central government funds for the functioning of privately managed de-addiction centres in the district came to light at the district administration’s co-ordination committee meeting with the Non-Government Organisations, at the DC’s office on Wednesday.

Raising the matter, Prajna Counselling Centre Director Prof Hilda Rayappan said that the alcohol and drug de-addiction centres were facing fund crunch as the government had not released the funds for treating the victims for the last one and a half year.

Another representative from Link Trada Counselling and De-addiction Centre said that despite the repeated requests, the government had not turned up. “We are doing a noble job, but we can not travel to New Delhi everytime, seeking grants. Moreover, the number of alcohol and drug abuse cases are on the rise, and majority of them are youth,” she said.

Three Central government recognised de-addiction centres are functioning in the Dakshina Kannada district, namely, Prajna, Link Trada and Cantous Innovative Project run by Society of the Sisters of St Joseph of Tarbes. Responding to the grievance, Women and Child Welfare department Deputy Director Gatrud Vegas said that several Central government funded projects have been delayed in the last one year.

“The Central government sponsored one- day assessment camp for disabled to provide them necessary aids and appliances was held eight months ago at Wenlock Hospital. As many as 350 patients were identified and assessed for availing benefits. The aids which were supposed to be delivered within three months, have not reached yet. We have been requesting the Central government to release the funds for de-addiction centres, but in-vain,” she lamented.
Hilda Rayappan and another NGO member complained about the Child Welfare Committee harassing the NGOs that run orphanages and shelter homes.

Hilda said that some of the shelter homes were closing down owing to the harassment. There should be a co-ordination and support from the government departments and NGOs, she requested.
Kamala Gowda from Shikshana Sampanmula Kendra demanded the women and child welfare department to appoint counsellors in shelter homes to counsel rescued children, before they are admitted to residential schools. “The children normally find it difficult to adjust to the residential school set-up and they may not be able to come out of the past. Therefore they should be counselled well in advance,” she suggested.

Form ward committees
Members of city based NGOs that work for civic issues demanded the Mangalore City Corporation to form ward committees at the earliest. Padmanabh Ullal from Namma Mane Namma Ooru said that various problems in the MCC limits could be rectified by forming ward committees. He warned that the MCC commissioner could be booked under dereliction of duty if the committees are not formed as per the Karnataka Municipal Act rules.

Replying to the demand, MCC Zonal Commissioner Pramila said that the matter was included in the Council meeting’s agenda last month, but the council adjourned it. “The Council has three months time to take a decision, failing which the commissioner can take a call on it,” she said.