Women panel head reviews Kapurthala de-addiction centre

In a move to support ongoing de-addiction and women empowerment efforts, Raj Lali Gill, Chairperson of the Punjab State Women Commission, visited the drug de-addiction centre at the Civil Hospital, Kapurthala. She interacted with patients, especially women, to evaluate medical care, medicine availability, and counselling support.

Gill emphasised a holistic rehabilitation approach, urging that individuals recovering from addiction be provided with employment opportunities and vocational training, particularly for women, to ensure long-term self-reliance.

She noted that young individuals who break free from addiction must be provided with employment opportunities aligned with their skills to help them reintegrate into the mainstream. The chairperson also highlighted the need for vocational training, especially for women, to ensure long-term economic self-reliance.

During her review with district and medical officials, Gill expressed satisfaction with current treatment practices and underscored the need to treat women battling addiction with dignity and without stigma.

Highlighting a drop in domestic violence cases due to the state’s intensified anti-drug campaign, she credited this to efforts led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. She added that many cases of abuse were previously linked to substance abuse among men.

Encouraging patients to become community awareness ambassadors, Gill noted their stories of recovery could motivate others to seek help and spread awareness.

To further bolster support mechanisms for women, district officials shared information about dedicated helplines that have been launched such as the District Hub for Empowerment of Women (01822-450187), the Sakhi One Stop Centre (01822-512403), and the national Women Helpline (181), which collectively aim to provide timely assistance and counselling to women in distress.

Also present during the visit were SDM Major Erwin Kaur, Civil Surgeon Dr Rajiv Parashar, Dr Sandeep Bhola, in charge of the de-addiction centre, and other key officials who briefed the chairperson on ongoing initiatives and future plans for strengthening rehabilitation services in the district.

Jalandhar