Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ms. Mona K Khandhar, visited the Government Drug Rehabilitation Centre at Raiwala, Uttarakhand, managed by the Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM), on October 29, 2026. The center employs a holistic, dignity-centered approach combining medical care, professional counseling, structured daily routines, and wellness activities to support residents' recovery journeys.
During the visit, Ms. Khandhar expressed intention to engage with the Ministry of AYUSH to explore integration of traditional wellness practices including yoga, meditation, and naturopathy into drug rehabilitation programs. She proposed that the Raiwala center could serve as a starting point for pilot projects examining how these practices might complement evidence-based medical treatment and counseling under appropriate clinical supervision. These projects would require structured planning, documentation, and evaluation to assess safety, acceptability, and potential benefits, with involvement from medical professionals, AYUSH practitioners, mental health experts, research institutions, and rehabilitation specialists to develop suitable protocols and quality standards.
The SPYM official detailed that the center currently incorporates wellness activities including Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Acupressure, Massage, Mud Therapy, and Epsom Salt Therapy as part of its rehabilitation environment. These activities are intended to complement rather than replace medical treatment and counseling, helping residents manage stress, maintain healthier routines, and improve overall well-being. The center emphasizes resident participation through daily routines, shared responsibilities, group activities, and input on daily routines, food menus, and recreational activities to foster belonging and mutual respect.
Ms. Khandhar emphasized the importance of transparent institutional practices, qualified professionals, effective grievance-redressal systems, and safeguards against abuse, noting that rehabilitation facilities must provide safe, professional, and humane care protecting individuals from violence, intimidation, and humiliation. She suggested that successful practices from evaluated pilot projects could be considered for adaptation at other government-supported drug rehabilitation centers across India, contingent on findings and ministry approvals.
The visit highlighted that recovery involves gradual steps including healthier routines, open communication, restored confidence, and preparation for return to family and community life. The Raiwala center's experience presents an opportunity to explore how medical treatment, counseling, wellness activities, and resident participation can be integrated within structured rehabilitation programs, with potential for further strengthening through individualized plans, resident feedback, grievance mechanisms, family involvement, discharge planning, community reintegration, follow-up support, and staff training.