Chandigarh July 16 (IANS) The Punjab government will hire retired government psychiatrists to deal with the rush of drug addicts at de-addiction centres across the state Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Monday.
The Chief Minister said the government s anti-drug campaign will include employment and empanelment of full-time and part-time private psychiatrists.
At his weekly review meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee set up to monitor the anti-drug measures the CM also directed the departments to ensure security of drug addicts and their families coming to the de-addiction and rehabilitation centres. The officials have been told to go for a holistic media campaign to spread awareness about drugs said a spokesman.
"The Chief Minister also asked district authorities to crack down on centres selling various over-the-counter drugs in violation of rules " the spokesman said.
The CM has asked the Chief Secretary to approach the Union Ministry of Social Empowerment and Justice for financial grant for setting up additional private de-addiction centres in the state to complement the state government s efforts.
Ministers in-charge of the districts have been told to hold regular meetings along with the legislators to keep a strict vigil over the treatment and medical care facilities being extended to the drug addicts at government drug de-addiction and rehab centres.
The Chief Minister also directed immediate inspection of the existing private de-addiction centres to ensure that they are equipped with adequate infrastructure.
"If the district authorities think that a de-addiction centre does not meet the minimum standards or is not providing all the required services in the prescribed manner the same may be recommended for closure " he added.

--IANS js/prs/sed