A meeting was also held on October 16, where we motivated the owners to come forward for registration. (Source: Pixabay)
Following the Lieutenant Governor’s nod to the guidelines for regulating de-addiction centres in the capital, the State Mental Health Authority (SMHA) has begun receiving applications for registration of such centres. Under the new guidelines notified by the L-G on September 18, each de-addiction centre will have to follow some minimum standards — including mandatory registration — before it can begin operations.
Section 65(3) of Mental Health Care Act 2017 empowers the existing SMHA to provisionally register all mental health establishments and specify the minimum standards for different mental health establishments. The minimum standards will be applicable for all government, private centres as well as those run by NGOs. “We have received 5-6 applications for registration of centres. A meeting was also held on October 16, where we motivated the owners to come forward for registration. The Act provides for provisional registration of de-addiction centres, but also says that it’s the responsibility of the owners of these centres to follow the minimum standards as laid down in the Act,” said Dr Nimesh Desai, CEO, SMHA and director of Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS).
As reported by The Indian Express in June, a recent Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) inspection of 124 de-addiction centres in Delhi found problems of detention, physical and mental torture and sexual abuse. On June 1, the Delhi High Court had directed Delhi Police to act on the report.
The inspection comes after the HC, in May this year, had ordered a city-wide survey of private de-addiction centres to verify if people are being detained against their will. The court had observed that there were 250-300 such illegal centres functioning in various areas. The government, in August, had told the HC that the guidelines will be notified and uploaded by September 19.
Sources in the social welfare department said there are only six de-addiction centres running under various government hospitals, while there are 498 centres run by NGOs and are recognised by the government. The guidelines further define the types of facilities that must be provided at the centre — based on short-term, long-term or full-time treatment — depending on the stay of the patient. It also states that each patient will get a unique ID and their details will be recorded.
“The present standards have been formed to ensure that inmates have a friendly environment, with recreational facilities… We will also have regular outings and family visits,” added Dr Desai.