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| Navjyoti - Delhi Police Foundation |
 Kiran as Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), Delhi
Police, in 1986 initiated de-addiction programs as a major step towards crime prevention.
She set up detoxification centers at six police stations in her jurisdiction. All these
centers were community supported through professional services. The addicts were, mostly
involved in crimes to sustain their drug habits and could not afford private medical treatment
and flocked to her centers for treatment.
This experiment was a remarkable success. The public support compelled it to
be institutionalized and in 1988 she along with her colleagues from the police registered it
as a Foundation called Navjyoti - Delhi Police Foundation for Correction, De-addiction and
Rehabilitation. Kiran is the Founder General Secretary and continues to supervise it in an
honorary capacity.
The model of Navjyoti became an inspiration for other state police
forces across the country. Navjyoti counselors and Kiran gave many presentations on how
Navjyoti works and how police could play a positive role in drug prevention. Many state police
forces including the National Police Academy included this concept in their training
programmes. Navjyoti started sharing and today has spread its message in many different cities
through its training and affiliation exchange programmes.
Kiran in her personal capacity was awarded the Asia Region Award for
maximum work done by any government servant in the field of drug abuse prevention in the
South Asian region. Simultaneously, Navjyoti received the National Award for its outstanding
work. Both the awards were given by the International Organization of Good Templars
(IOGT), a Norwegian organization for the year 1989–91. Navjyoti won the award again for
the year 1992. It has been accorded Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social
Council of the United Nations (UN). It was awarded the UN sponsored Serge Sotiroff
Memorial Award for the year 1999 for its outstanding contributions in the field of
international drug control.
Since inception in 1987, Navjyoti has detoxified around 12000 drug
addicts from Delhi and the neighboring states. Detoxification is induced through a
multi-disciplinary treatment — medical, psycho social and environmental and has follow-up
and ‘Community Out Reach’ programmes. The Navjyoti programme follows the principle
of psycho social management, which is adhered to by a team of trained social workers,
counselors, para professionals, yoga therapists and abusers who are recovering and physicians
who practice homeopathic medicine, naturopathy and acupuncture. Hence, the
organization does not advocate the use of substitute substances, instead it practices total
abstinence from all chemicals including those used for the purpose of
detoxification. Patients remain at Navjyoti center for a year. All
professional services are free of cost. The patient only pays for his food to a food
contractor. For some patients, food comes from home. Navjyoti supports only the
poor.
Navjyoti has institutionalized by organizing the family members of the
recovering addicts as a Capable Group. They help themselves and others while assisting
Navjyoti in after care services.
Navjyoti approach is very challenging and difficult because, according to
it, the process of treating and rehabilitating drug abusers should always be open to new
possibilities so as to maximize the potential for the former abuser’s recovery and
reintegration into society. Navjyoti now runs a helpline
service online and all relevant information could be
gathered at www.drughelpline.org.
Other Projects
The foundation has expanded and has undertaken other projects too
under its wings. It provides vocational training to women from economically weaker
sections and provides Family Counseling services to residents of a resettlement colony in
Delhi as also in the rural outskirts of the city. Trying to address the root cause of all
miseries in the urban slums — illiteracy, Navjyoti runs a Street Children Project in one
of the largest slums of Delhi since 1986. The foundation provides schooling till Class
five and vocational training to the children. In order to expand its reach, the foundation
also provides non formal education to the working children. In fact, the foundation offers a
composite package for the development of the community in the slums, which also includes
health care services and crèches for children. Its contribution to the society has been
acclaimed by the government of India and Navjyoti was conferred the State award for Child
Welfare.
Navjyoti was one of the first Non Governmental organizations which
extended a helping hand in the reformative activities initiated at Tihar. It runs a crèche
and a vocational training center for the female prisoners. Efforts are made by the foundation
for rehabilitation of the released inmates. |
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