Srinagar, Sep 8: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today inaugurated the Rehabilitation Centre for District Srinagar at the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), marking a significant step towards strengthening rehabilitation and socio-economic reintegration services for people affected by substance abuse.

The Centre has been established as part of the Phase-I pilot of the Rehabilitation & Socio-Economic Reintegration Scheme for Drug Abuse Victims, 2026, launched by the Social Welfare Department in coordination with the Health & Medical Education Department, district administration and other stakeholders.
Following the inauguration, the Chief Secretary inspected the facility and reviewed the arrangements, including doctors’ rooms, patient and family counselling areas, group therapy facilities and referral and emergency linkages.
Dulloo appreciated the efforts behind the initiative and said the Centre should provide beneficiaries with a structured pathway towards recovery, helping them rebuild confidence, reconnect with families and communities and return to productive and dignified lives.
He described the pilot as an important move towards translating the rehabilitation policy into a practical mechanism at the grassroots level. He also stressed that the experience gained during the pilot should help refine the framework and facilitate its expansion to other districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Secretary emphasised sustained coordination among health institutions, government departments, district administrations and community-level stakeholders for the success of the initiative.
Commissioner Secretary, Health & Medical Education, M. Raju, said the Centre has been designed as a comprehensive support system extending beyond treatment and de-addiction to rehabilitation, family engagement, recovery and socio-economic reintegration.
Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare, Sarmed Hafeez, said the Centre would provide multidisciplinary support through medical assessment, counselling, social-work intervention, case management, family engagement, referral and follow-up. Individual Rehabilitation Plans will be prepared for beneficiaries based on their specific needs.
He added that the initiative would also assist beneficiaries in accessing education, skill development and livelihood opportunities, thereby helping them rebuild their lives and achieve sustainable socio-economic reintegration.
Head of IMHANS, Dr Arshad Hussain, said the Centre would strengthen community-based rehabilitation by coordinating with ASHA workers, Self Help Groups and other frontline functionaries. The framework also envisages capacity-building of Medical Officers, Psychiatrists, Counsellors and Social Welfare Officials/Case Managers in screening, assessment, referral, counselling, family engagement and relapse-risk identification.
The Centre is expected to serve as a crucial link between clinical treatment and community-based rehabilitation, with continued support aimed at reducing relapse and social exclusion.
The scheme also seeks to strengthen addiction psychiatry services in J&K through collaboration with the National Drug De-addiction & Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMS New Delhi, including training, mentoring, observerships and joint research in addiction psychiatry and rehabilitation.
The initiative reflects a shift towards a people-centric and recovery-oriented approach, recognising that lasting rehabilitation requires medical care as well as family support, social acceptance, skills, livelihood opportunities and sustained follow-up.