All of us are in a race. A race called life. Failure to cross the finish line can lead to emotional turmoil, but the finish line itself keeps moving ahead of most of us like a mirage. Staying in the race is tough and those who drop out of the race, soon seek a substitute for the highs of success that they sought while on the track and these substitutes are plentifully available and are extremely addictive causing a person to become a slave to them.
Once an addict, always an Addict? No, not if we are able to see beyond the surface of the addiction, or encourage them to be what they can be. LINK INTERGRATED REHABILITATION CENTRE FOR ADDICTS along with the social work students of ROSHNI NILAYA have taken a step to provide this opportunity to them, a word they would have forgotten in the haze of intoxication.
The joint initiative seeks to provide skills to these addicts to enable them re-enter the race of life and stay on course till the finish line. The initative is a part of and modeled on a larger national initiative introduced by tthe Prime minister Modi under which 5,70,476 people have already been trained, and 23,88,009 already employed (according to http://www.skillindia.gov.in/) in various fields.
Link IRCA is a residential treatment facility for addicts of all kinds, and though not an official partner of the Government in this function of re-skilling people, has taken up this work as it believed it would help the addicts refocus on their lives even as it made life worth while for them.
This program began on 17th of February with combined efforts of Mrs. Lydia Lobo (Administrator Link) Colin Braggs, Mohammad Thouheed and Joel Pinto(Students of School of Social work, Roshni Nilaya) with Mrs. Dominica Braggs an Expert in craft as the chief trainer. The training currently being imparted mainly focuses on making simple and basic house hold commodities like door mats out of waste cloth materials (using plate method, and multi pieces fold method), making phone covers through crochet wool, hand wool bands (used for religious purpose) Paper bags and gift boxes out of waste paper or out of handmade paper. The plan also extends to making Soaps, Phenyl, Liquid soap, Sambar powder and Pickle.
This initiative which started with giving the inmates new skills based on their interests and is expected to help them and their families make a living from their learnt skills in due course. The imitative is unique because it is not only the under treatment addicts that are trained, the family members too are provided the opportunity to develop their interests and learn new skills. This program also provides this skill training at the location of the families if a group of them show interest in the program.
Experience has shown, that this program is going beyond mere skilling into creating “Entrepreneurs”. A rather high sounding word, but in its own way, it is just what it is doing, adding value to the person, family and the nation. People are the key to the success of any initiative and the program is looking for volunteers who are willing to share their knowledge and time to improve the lives of others, give back to society what they themselves have received and derive the ultimate satisfaction that comes from helping others improve their quality of life. After all it is drops of water that make a mighty ocean!. Do get in touch with them at the address below if you believe you have something to offer a fellow human being in terms of knowledge or skills.
About LINK:
LINK Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts, Mangalore, Karnataka is a service project of LINK Anti Addiction Citizens Committee ®, a registered Charitable Society. It was started on August 25, 1991 as a students’ movement in School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya under the leadership of T. S. Thomas and registered as a Society in 1992 under the Presidentship of Mr. Ronald Colaco. He has solely contributed financially for the entire expenses of the Centre during the first five years towards salaries of staff, rent, medicines, maintenance etc. Link has received the “Spandana” award from Indian Psychiatric Society, Karnataka State branch and earned due recognition nationally and internationally.
The Organization has completed its 25 years of existence. It is running a 50 bedded De-addiction Centre at J.M.Road, Padil, which is recognized by the Ministry of Social Justice and empowerment, Govt. of India.
The Agency has treated nearly 18000 patients addicted to alcohol and drugs, so far through its residential treatment programme at the Centre and community based De-addiction camps at rural areas. The average age group coming to the centre between 16 to 60 years. Among the patients 65% are from Hindu community, 25% from Christians, and 10% from Muslim community. The patients in the centre have been given medical and psychiatric care, nursing care, counseling, yoga therapy, group therapy, AA orientation and follow up facilities. It has collaborated with over 200 NGOs and trained over 2000 personnel’s in five Districts over the years as part of its outreach programmes.
Address:
Link IRCA
J.M Road, Padil, Bajal
Mangaluru
Ph: 0824-2246890, 9481447290
