Journalism of Courage
He has given up alcohol and is starting life afresh on a clean slate. When Ramesh (name changed) shifted from Mumbai to Pune, it was mainly to shake off his old friend circle and start life anew. An inveterate alcoholic, he used to hang out with his friends after work, making his family life suffer. A six-month rehabilitation programme at Muktangan de-addiction centre in Pune and sessions at the vocational training centre helped him turn over a new leaf.
“I have brought my family to Pune and even got a job as a cook,” he said.
After the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment appointed Muktangan Mitra as the regional resource training centre (RRTC) for five states, there has been renewed efforts to provide vocational training for addicts who recover. It partners with 97 rehabilitation centres.
Forty persons who have kicked addiction have undergone vocational training, and at least 23 got jobs in Pune, Mumbai, Indore, Raipur and other cities, says Sanjay Bhagat, Coordinator, RRTC West 1, Muktangan Mitra.
“We successfully completed two courses with 20 participants, each for basic and advance computer skills earlier this year. From November 12, a fresh batch of 30 recovered addicts will undergo training in housekeeping and as assistant cooks.”
Bhagat recalled the case of another 30-year-old, whose alcohol abuse cost him his job in the shipping industry. He participated in the rehabilitation programme and received vocatonal training. He returned to Mumbai and works as a DTP operator.
Out of every ten persons from Maharashtra treated at Muktangan, eight were addicted to alcohol. Those who sought rehabilitation from states like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh had brown sugar addiction.
At Muktangan, a batch of 150 can take up rehabilitation at a time. Organizers have been witnessing a rise in number of women addicted to alcohol. The RRTC aims to reach out to at least 200 persons in the western zone.
“We have a target of completing training in seven courses by end of the financial year,” Bhagat said.
The centre frames courses for recovered addicts, and works in tandem with government agencies and NGOs for skill development and vocational rehabilitation.
At a recent national consultative meet of RRTCs, at Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, New Delhi, emphasis was on skill development and vocational training. RRTC West 1, Muktangan, which won the ‘National Award’ for its contribution to ‘Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention’ has conducted two courses on computer training and would start another course in computer training and mobile repair this month.
