Patna, Feb. 2: An integrated rehabilitation centre for victims of drug and alcohol abuse will come up in the state capital in March. Mahavir Mandir Trust, which is already involved in several philanthropic projects in the state, will set up the centre.

Mahavir Sansthan Nyas Samiti secretary Acharya Kishore Kunal said: “The Mahavir Mandir Trust has decided to establish an integrated rehabilitation centre to fight the growing threat of drug addiction and alcoholism, particularly among the youths. The centre will come up next month after Holi (March 7).”

“We will initially start with 15 beds at Dr Subhadra Upadhyay Clinic in Kankerbagh behind Rajeshwar Hospital at the cost of Rs 20 lakh. Patients at the centre would be given subsidies. The charge will be nominal,” said Kunal, who is also the chairman of Bihar State Board of Religious Trusts.

The trust is constructing a building at Hajipur for Rs 2 crore on a 2-acre campus for the centre. The 60-bed facility is likely to be completed in six months after which the rehabilitation centre would operate from both Hajipur and Kankerbagh. Kunal added: “The centre will try to rehabilitate drug addicts with the help of medical treatment, psychiatrists and trained counsellors. It will also provide yoga therapy and deliver sermons. The trust is in touch with a centre in Chennai, T.T. Ranganathan Clinical Research Foundation and Hospital. We are trying to take the help of their doctors for carrying out the de-addiction programme effectively.”

Directors of Mahavir Arogya Sansthan and Mahavir Vaatsalya, run by the trust, can be contacted for details and registration.