State government amends Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2001

GANGTOK, 08 Nov: The state government effected some amendments in the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and   Full Participation) Rules, 2001, with the amended section connected with application of Disability Certificate by those who are disability and on the mode of appointment of the State Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities and procedures to be followed by him.

Recovering users want SADA cleansed of insensitive and counter-productive clauses

GANGTOK, 27 May: While conceding that the Sikkim Anti-Drugs ACT [SADA] 2006 was a progressive law, a number of recovering, or “willing to be reformed”, individuals are also critical of certain provisions of the Act.
At a press conference held here at a local hotel this afternoon, members of the Recovering Users Network [RUN] highlighted what they see as discrepancies and pointed out that provisions providing for arrest of substance abusers as well as imprisonment, fine and dismissal from regular service or black- listing them from government jobs if found guilty of drug abuse was a violation of the Constitution.
According to RUN, doing so goes against the concerned individual’s right to live with dignity, guaranteed under our Constitution.
Recovering Users’ Network, an umbrella organization of recovering drug addicts and alcoholics with over 300 members, ten social organisations and six rehabilitation and detoxification centers came forward today with their suggestions on how SADA should be amended to make it more holistic and humane.