Shillong, Apr 14: In a step towards the rehabilitation and socio-economic reintegration of recovering addicts, the state government’s flagship drug reduction initiative, DREAM, has partnered with the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Shillong to provide specialised skill-development tools to local rehabilitation centres.
This collaboration aims to empower patients through practical training, equipping them with livelihood-oriented skills to ensure they can sustain themselves after their treatment.
Experts from ITI Shillong will lead hands-on training sessions to ensure the equipment is used effectively. The formal handover of these tools took place this Tuesday at the DREAM Mission office in Lower Lachaumiere.
The initiative is launching as a pilot project across four prominent facilities: New Life De-addiction Centre, New Hope De-addiction Centre for Men, New Hope De-addiction Centre for Women and Asha Bhawan.
Participants will receive basic training within the rehab centres in trades such as bakery, food and vegetable processing, plumbing, and wireman work.
Upon completing their rehabilitation, individuals are encouraged to enroll in full-time courses at the ITI to further their expertise.
DREAM Mission Director Francis Kharshiing highlighted the gravity of the drug crisis, noting that heroin users often require three shots a day.
While a single shot previously cost around Rs 600, intensive coordination between the police and Social Welfare Department last year successfully disrupted the supply chain.
“This scarcity caused prices to spike to approximately Rs 3,000 per shot by last October, forcing users to find nearly Rs 10,000 daily to fund their addiction, which in turn led to a rise in petty crime,” he said .
Kharshiing emphasized that the relapse rate remains a critical challenge, with nearly 70 percent of individuals returning to drug use after leaving rehab.
These individuals often influence more youth into addiction to help fund their own habits.
“By introducing vocational training, the mission hopes to break this cycle, giving survivors the tools to stand on their own feet and avoid the triggers of their past,” the Director DREAM Mission said.
Additionally, the Director informed that seven NGO-run rehab centres receive Rs 40 lakh each in funding, with 15 beds specifically reserved for free use by Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
