Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma says the move follows complaints against private rehabilitation centres and aims to strengthen the state’s fight against drug abuse
Guwahati: The Assam government will establish government-run drug rehabilitation centres in every district, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on September 15, signalling a major expansion of the state’s anti-drug efforts.
Addressing a press conference in Jorhat after the two-day District Commissioners’ Conference, the Chief Minister said the government had received several complaints against private de-addiction centres, with drug consumption reportedly detected at some facilities. “We will strictly scrutinise the private rehab centres. Government centres will be set up in each district,” he said.
The Chief Minister also directed district commissioners to explore suitable land for district-level land banks to facilitate industrial investments, saying limited land availability was hindering projects.
Referring to the BRICS Guwahati Declaration on drugs, he called for a united effort against narcotics. The conference also discussed reforms in middle-school education, healthcare and implementation of government schemes.
The Chief Minister further urged DCs to move beyond what he described as a “colonial mindset”, calling for greater discipline, efficiency and private-sector professionalism in administration. He said technology and artificial intelligence must increasingly shape governance.
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