Asked to bring in addicts to receive salary: Rehab staff

IN ABSENCE OF OFFICIAL PHONE, EMPLOYEES FINDING IT TOUGH TO MONITOR ADDICTS AFTER TREATMENT

The staff managing the government de-addiction centre at the district headquarters claims the authorities are pressurising them to bring patients to ensure they get their salaries in a time-bound manner.

If it is was not enough, they are finding it difficult to monitor the behaviour of addicts once they have undergone treatment in the absence of an official phone.

And calling from their personal mobiles for the purpose not only burns a hole in their pockets but it has also become a source of trouble for them as their phones keep ringing even on holidays.

Jasdeep Kumari, the lone counsellor posted at the centre, said the district administration has repeatedly ignored their requests to get them a landline phone for the purpose.

NO PAY FOR 2 MONTHS

The centre’s 16 employees comprising the counsellor, a cook and the helping staff have not received their salaries for the last two months.

“We are asked to bring in more patients. It is the job of the district administration to motivate addicts to join the centre,” said Jasdeep.

Another staff member, who wished not to be named, said they have to travel to far-flung areas to hold drug awareness camps for which they are not provided any conveyance or allowances.

The staff has been recruited through a private company while some of them come under the district de-addiction society.

WHAT DC SAYS

Deputy commissioner Dharam Pal Gupta said the staff can monitor patients after treatment by using their mobile phones. “A landline telephone will be installed soon. Their salaries will also be credited.”

LIQUOR ‘LANDMARK’

A liquor shop is situated opposite the centre. It has become a landmark to locate it. Despite residents’ demands to relocate the shop, it continues to run.