Model workplace substance abuse prevention programmes in India |
| [ Model prevention programmes ] |
Between 1994 and the end of 1999, the ILO implemented a project to develop community-based rehabilitation and workplace prevention programmes in India. The project was financed by UNDCP and the Government of India and built on the progress made by two previous smaller-scale projects covering community rehabilitation and workplace prevention programmes.
The community-based rehabilitation services component of the project focussed on the strengthening and development of 18 NGOs in the cities of Bangalore, Bombay, Calcutta, Imphal, Jodhpur, Lucknow, Madras, Patna and Pune. Training was provided to representatives of the NGOs in a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation, including such aspects as family involvement, case management, the development of employment opportunities for recovering addicts (including the establishment of credit facilities for self-employment) and management by objectives. Each NGO identified an area for an outreach and community programme, which was covered by a rapid assessment survey.
Nine of the NGOs were also provided with training and facilities to enable them to provide support for enterprise prevention and rehabilitation programmes.
Agreements were signed with twelve enterprises, with a combined workforce of over 110,000, and key management officials and their NGO partners were all provided with training. All the enterprises have adopted policies on alcohol and drug use with the involvement of workers' representatives. They are all implementing preventive activities, such as the dissemination of their policy to all workers. Other activities include logo and slogan competitions in which workers' children have participated, articles in in-house magazines, the distribution of pamphlets and leaflets and the organization of meetings and other events such as plays and shows.
Assistance programmes have also been launched in each of the enterprises in collaboration with the partner NGO. The identification of employees with substance abuse problems is under way and workers have frequent opportunities to consult professional counsellors at the workplace. By the end of the project, one of the participating enterprises had referred over 250 employees for assistance, of whom over 200 had already returned to work.
In these enterprises, for almost the first time in India, addiction is being treated as a health problem. The managers, supervisors, workers' representatives and NGOs involved in workplace programmes all express enthusiasm and expectations are high. Managers from the enterprises feel that the programmes have started to improve the working environment, with employees drinking less and reporting to work on time.
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