Enquiries Pour In, But Pending Aid Impedes Ops

Children treated at Vimukthi centres 2024: 2,880 2025 (till February): 588 Source: Excise department

- SHAINU MOHAN @T'Puram

With substance abuse among minors emerging as a growing concern, lack of dedicated rehabilitation centres for children and adolescents are becoming a huge challenge in Kerala. There are only two government-aided centres for children in the state, and both these facilities are unable to cater to the increasing number of cases being reported. These facilities are yet to get the promised grant from the government.

As per the data released by the Excise Department, as part of the Vimukthi project, the number of children coming to Vimukthi centres has gone up in recent years. In 2024, around 2,880 children were treated at Vimukthi de-addiction centres. This year, as many as 588 children sought treatment as of February in Kerala.