CJI launches 3-month youth rehabilitation campaign for drug abuse victims in Punjab

Chandigarh, Jul 18 (PTI) Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday launched a three-month Youth Recovery and Rehabilitation Campaign in Punjab to help young people affected by substance abuse through treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration. The state-wide campaign, launched in the presence of the Acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and other judges, will be implemented by all District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) from July 18 to October 31 in mission mode, the Punjab State Legal Services Authority (PSLSA) said. According to the authority, the campaign aims to provide rehabilitation support to vulnerable youth, prevent substance abuse, improve access to treatment and encourage affected persons to lead healthy, drug-free lives. A three-phase action plan has been prepared for the initiative. The first phase, from July 18 to July 31, will focus on institutional preparedness, capacity building, district mapping and identification of vulnerable areas and individuals. The second phase, from September 1 to September 30, will include voluntary counselling, family counselling and referrals to government de-addiction centres by DLSAs. The identities of beneficiaries will be kept confidential. The third phase, from October 1 to October 31, will focus on post-treatment rehabilitation and follow-up. Recovered youth will be linked with schools, colleges, vocational training institutes, skill development programmes, employment exchanges and sports and yoga activities to prevent relapse, according to the PSLSA. The authority said the campaign will be implemented through a multi-sectoral network involving the health department, prison department, education and skill development agencies, police, civil society organisations and community leaders. It said the initiative would continue beyond October and would be repeated every quarter to provide sustained support. The PSLSA also appealed to parents, teachers, youth groups and healthcare professionals to actively participate in the campaign to help build a drug-free Punjab. PTI VSD PRK