Drug abuse is a major problem for many young people in Kolkata. Children often run away to railway stations in India and start to live in children’s gangs where they are introduced to illegal drugs. In 2005, a Rehabilitation and Intervention programme was initiated as well as a Drop in Centre – Howrah DIC (Drop in Centre for Solvent Addicted Children), to help children to lead a drug free life.
This was followed by the setting-up of a Rehabilitation Home, Punorjibon, in August 2005.