80-90 per cent addicts getting treatment in OOAT centres relapse into addiction: Health Minister

The health minister said that there are currently 529 registered OOAT clinics in the state. “So far about 2,76,131 patients in government centers and about 6,67,327 patients in private centers, totaling 9,43,458 patients have been registered for treatment,” he said.

Posing a supplementary question, the Congress MLA asked how many of these patients completed their de-addiction treatment at OOAT clinics and how many were successfully weaned off drugs.

Dr Balbir Singh said that the first objective for patients who come to OOAT clinics is to take them off injective drugs and bring them onto oral substitution therapy so that there is harm reduction.

“The second aim is to ensure de-addiction of these patients. Around 60-70 per cent of these patients get into the de-addicition mode but the relapse rate is very high. About 80 to 90 per cent of them relapse because their circumstances remain the same. They eventually go back to the same circle of friends. For this, we have devised a new strategy under the mental health policy that is being revised,” he said.

The minister added that skill development and yoga is also being used to give a sense of purpose to these patients so that they remain busy through the day in meaningful work and the relapse rate will come down.

Dr Raj Kumar also asked about the number of psychiatrists who were engaged in the OOAT clinics in the state. The health minister said that there were 35 psychiatrists at present working in government OOAT centres and added that there was a big shortage of psychiatrists.

“We are collaborating with private centres through Red Cross centres. We have also taken a new initiative in jails where we have tested the inmates for associated issues like HIV, hepatitis etc and put them on treatment. We have also deputed psychiatrists, psychologists and counsellors in the jails along with yoga and employment generation training. Decriminalisation of addicts is also an initiative,” he said.

AAP workers enjoying ration cards while cards of needy cancelled: Abohar MLA

Congress MLA from Abohar, Sandeep Jakhar questioned the criteria of the government in cancelling ration cards in the state. Showing photographs he had brought in the house, Jakhar said that poor and needy people living in mud houses have had their ration cards cancelled while AAP workers who do not meet the criteria for getting these cards ate enjoying the facility.

The MLA had posed the question on how many ration cards have been cancelled in district Fazilka and Abohar constituency in the last one year and what is the criteria for cancellation of cards and is there any mechanism for people to appeal if they feel that their ration cards have been wrongly cancelled.

In his reply, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs minister Lal Chand Kataruchak said that during the past one year, 3,971 ration cards have been cancelled in Fazilka, of which 1549 were cancelled in Abohar constituency.

“In verification drives, some ration cards have been cancelled wrongly. But this has not happened due to political reasons and corrective measures will be taken. We are also trying to make some changes and issue ration cards on social criteria instead of economic criteria only. This could include Covid-affected families, HIV/cancer affected families, single women above 35 years etc,” he said, adding that it will be announced soon.

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Form house panel to inspect Amritsar school of eminence: Bains

Responding to a question by Congress MLA Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on a already existing school of eminence being inaugurated in Chheharta in Amritsar recently, Education Minister Harjot Bains said let a committee of house be formed to inspect government schools so that the opposition could realise the sea change that has taken place in them. Warring had referred to AAPs Amritsar MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap’s statement regarding an old school being repainted and put forth as a new school of eminence in Amritsar which was inaugurated by AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal. Addressing the Speaker, Bains said,” I request that a committee of members, in which Raja ji should also be included. They should come along with me to see the school of eminence iN Chheharta. The ground beneath their feet will slip when they see it and will leave them wide eyed. They should talk to the students there,” he said.

Drinking water arrangements in Dera Bassi: MLA

AAP MLA from Dera Bassi Kuljit Singh Randhawa said there was acute shortage of drinking water in his constituency and demanded that water from canals should be used to supply drinking water in the four towns and 100 villages of his constituency. “There is no drinking water in constituency. Chemical plant, meat plant wastage is seeping into ground water,” he said.