May 17: An NGO, battling against the rise in substance abuse among streetchildren has found a new friend.

Kripa Foundation, an organisation crusading against various forms of addiction and AIDS/HIV, has joined hands with Guwahati Street Children Project to rehabilitate underprivileged children addicted to substance abuse.

Under the project’s initiative and Kripa Foundation, the city will soon have a rehabilitation centre to treat children who have become victims of substance abuse.

The centre is likely to function from June.

“Everything is ready. Once we find a building to house the centre, we will start treating children suffering from substance abuse,” said Gamliel Sherio, project manager of the GSCP.

Around 50-odd streetchildren suffering from addiction to Dendrite have been identified. But people involved with the project were finding it hard to rehabilitate the children.

“Thankfully, Kripa Foundation took notice of the problem. The centre will help the children undergo de-addiction under the supervision of experts,” said Sherio.

Eight-year-old Rubul Kalita’s addiction to Dendrite has become so acute that he cannot abstain from sniffing the glue even for half-an-hour.

Rubul, who is a ragpicker at Guwahati railway station, is now suffering from severe respiratory problems.

“Rubul is not alone. Most of the children in the streets of the city have become victims of substance abuse. It is an easy way to keep hunger pangs at bay. If they do not get proper treatment, they will die soon,” said Sherio.

“We want to kill the problem at the roots. If children are unable to buy Dendrite, then the problem can be solved to a great extent. But shopkeepers are selling Dendrite freely. Unless the administration enforces a ban, the problems will continue,” said Sherio.

Bhanushri Medhi, a city-based child rights activist said, “Dendrite tubes are readily available. Thus children can afford to spend Rs 7 or Rs 10 to buy a tube of Dendrite. Most of the shopkeepers selling Dendrite are unaware about the harmful effects of the substance. Thus we have to discourage them to sell Dendrite, especially to children,” said Medhi.

“The rehabilitation centre will definitely go a long way in solving the problem to a great extent,” said Medhi.

Organisers of the project conducted a special survey last year focussing on substance abuse by streetchildren in the city.

The survey covered areas like Maligaon, Beltola, Fancy Bazar Railway Colony, Patharquarry, Bamunimaidam, Six-Mile and Ganeshguri, where streetchildren are found in large numbers.

According to the survey, which involved 500 streetchildren, 99 per cent are addicted to Dendrite.