People Action Trust (PAT)

Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCA) at Krishnagiri District

Krishnagiri region has a vast population of poor people, who manage to eke out a living by hard labour in construction, tannery, Mango pulp and other small factories. The hard-living conditions and financial worries often drive most of them to seek refuge in drinks – which offers a temporary relief which is illusory, but which eventually takes a toll on their health. And the school and college students, influenced by some of their spoilt friends, resort to drugs to escape from the burdensome examinations and classwork. All these have had a cascading effect on society, as hundreds of productive man-hours are lost, resulting in serious loss of production, and series income deficiency in families.

As a humble effort on our part, we started an Integrated Rehabilitation Centre, named "Unnalmudiyum" (meaning "You can do it", i.e. come out of addiction!).

Fortunately, we have got the recognition and support of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, New Delhi, for this venture, and we have been running this IRCA at Indira Nagar, Bargur, Krishnagiri Dist., with a 15 bedded hospital for those addicted to drugs and drinks. There is a qualified doctor who regularly for medical checkup of patients. The comprehensive treatment given over the course of 4 weeks includes –

• a complete detoxification programme in the first week
• regular check ups by the doctor who prescribes the requisite medicines, which are supplied free;
• physical exercises to tone up the system, yoga and meditation programmes for mental peace;
• lectures and video shows to educate on the harm done to the various organs in our body due to this addiction;
• individual and group counselling with erstwhile addicts, who now lead a healthy and happy life;
• follow up visits by our social workers to advice on continuing the medicines where required, and to detect cases of relapse.

Such a comprehensive programme has been treated 182 addicts during last Year. In addition, regular followup through home visit, telephone calls and mail communication is also on progress. We also make efforts to join AA group in order to continue soberty.

Awareness Programme is conducted every year on October 2, (Gandhi's birthday), when lectures by doctors or social workers are delivered on the evil of addiction, and children take out a procession advocating this social cause

The IRCA at Bargur has been doing yeomen service, which is helpful and so appreciated by all sections of the population, and we are grateful to the Government for their support to this valuable project. We do hope that such useful projects would receive the Government's support every year.