Mangalore, September 18: Funds for the functioning of privately managed de-addiction centres in the district have been unduly delayed by the Central government, and this has been revealed at the coordination committee meeting of the district administration on September 17th with the NGOs- Non-Government Organisations, at the DK DC office.
Director of Prajna Counselling Centre Prof Hilda Rayappan brought the matter to the attention of those present and stated that the alcohol and drug de-addiction centres were facing fund crisis as the government had not released 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 the government had not responded despite the repeated requests. “We are doing a noble job, but seeking grants we cannot travel to New Delhi often. 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 their 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 necessary aids and appliance was held eight months ago at Wenlock Hospital. 350 patients were identified and assessed for availing benefits. The aids which were supposed to be delivered within three months, have not yet reached. We have been urging 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. Rayappan said that some of the shelter homes were closing down as a result of unnecessary 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.
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.
MCC Zonal Commissioner Pramila said on reverting to their demand that the matter was presented in the Council meeting’s agenda last month, but the council adjourned it. Three months time is given to the council to decide, failing which the commissioner can decide on it.
