SPYM

SPYM is a national organisation with a countrywide network, working in the area of

community mobilization, health care and socio-economic development since last
three decades.

Our mission is to provide quality services within available resources which enable people to
maximize their potential, increase their abilities, preserve and enhance human dignity/worth,
prevent or reduce the need for services by empowering the community to sustain the program
activities on their own for their overall long term development.

We are active at the state, national, international levels and work in the
domains of:

Community mobilization for leadership development

Health care (Reproductive & sexual health, HIV/AIDS, Drug Use etc.,)
Field Survey, Research, Education and Documentation
Advocacy & Networking for better policies
SPYM is registered under the Societys Registration Act of 1860 with Registration No. S-
16824 and holds FCRA registration with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India.

SPYM is granted tax exemption under 80 G and 12 A of Income

Tax Act.

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SPYM opened its first Drug Treatment Centre in 1985 which was the first such centre of
its kind in North India. A systematic and comprehensive approach towards those who
wish to cease drug use has benefited thousands of people over the years.

We provides both Inpatient and Outpatient treatment services for Substance Use
Disorders Among adults in India, and are also the only organisation in the country
providing specialised drug treatment services for juveniles in conflict with law and
young adolescents.

SPYM AIM AND PROJECTS ON:-

HEALTH
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 DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION

Awareness programmes for school children

Children in the 8 15 years age-group are among the most vulnerable to falling into
the drug trap. This is especially the case when they see their friends doing drugs and
are tempted to find out for themselves what the experience is like. This results in a
large number of children dropping out of school before they even complete primary
level education.

And this is where SPYM comes in.

Our mission is to get children and young adults to understand the dangers of drug-
taking behaviour, by familiarising them with the stories of victims who had none to
guide them when they went astray. It is with this end in mind that all our awareness
programmes are designed using various multi-media techniques to send the message
home in a simple and compelling manner. Among the numerous beneficiaries are Delhi
government and MCD School Students.

Sessions for primary caregivers

These orientation-cum-awareness programmes are all geared to help school principals,

teachers, counsellors, primary health nurses and other stakeholders to identify the
problem groups at the nascent stages, so that the evil can be nipped in the bud.

Community-based interventions

Those most vulnerable to getting addicted to drugs comprise the vast floating
population of the homeless and the marginalised the fringe people. It is among them
that cases of drug and alcohol abuse mostly abound, and who are in urgent need of
attention. In the absence of institutional and societal back-up and support services their
dependence invariably ends up in precipitating major mental health crises, including
AIDS. Our aim at SPYM is to identify these groups and involve them in programmes that
help them snap out of the vicious cycle. Our audio-visual programmes are popular
among all those involved in sensitising people about the hazards of addiction and the

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treatment programmes and options that are available. At SPYM these interventions and
the counselling are given free.

Prison-based intervention

A majority of drug users/ dependents are known to have served prison sentences,
either because of drug possession or drug-related crimes. Even when they manage to
come out of jail, many are lured back to drugs and often land in jail again. Here again
SPYM plays a central role in helping them, especially young offenders, to break out of
this vicious cycle of drugs and crime. For this we have devised comprehensive and
holistic programmes that once the dependence is over help them enter the social
mainstream as productive members of society.
At Tihar Central Jail, for instance, we engage young addicts and vulnerable youth in
both one-on-one and group sessions. Once they are released, SPYM works towards
rehabilitating them and ensuring that they do not go back to drugs. Prisoners with a
history of drug abuse or those vulnerable to addiction are enrolled in life skills
educational programmes. The first step is medication combined with counselling and
the second is aftercare, which involves rehabilitation over a sustained period.
It is obvious that the longer one has been in drugs the more difficult it is for the person
to permanently escape its clutches. But once the person becomes deeply motivated it
becomes progressively easier, with proper counselling and support, to overcome the
urge.
Workplace-oriented programmes

SPYM also organizes specialised orientation-cum-sensitisation workshops for cab

drivers, factory workers, labourers and others to educate them about the perils of
drug/alcohol abuse at the workplace. We all know what a heavy toll on society drunken
driving takes every single day. It is the same with those who operate heavy machines in
an inebriated state.

Drunken Driving Intervention Project

SPYM is working closely with the Delhi Legal Services Authority and District Courts in
the national capital to implement a brief intervention and counselling programme for
those used to drunken driving, or who are found indulging in domestic violence. Almost
all of these deal with offences committed by males under the influence of alcohol or

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drugs or both. Through this, SPYM aims to identify and intervene among those who
require support and assistance to prevent developing alcohol dependence.

National Youth Forums

very year SPYM invites select youth from different colleges, universities, institutes and
youth groups to devise strategies to address the issue of substance abuse among
young people at the national level. This National Youth Forum, launched in 2015, is
held annually.

DRUG TREATMENT & REHABILITATION

Juvenile Drug De-addiction-cum-Rehabilitation Centre

The centre began operations in October 2010 and was formally inaugurated on 20 April,
2011. Set up to address growing drug addiction among children and juveniles in New
Delhi who frequently broke the law, the 90-day residential centre offers round-the-clock
service. This includes providing primary treatment support, as well as rehabilitation and
reintegration with the help of their families and the community. The SPYM-operated
centre has a vision and a mission which have guided its operations right since its
inception.

Vision Mission
Developing a model program to rehabilitate

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 Treatment, rehabilitation and and reform adolescent boys who abuse
reform of adolescent boys using drugs, and ensuring its replication and
drugs and in conflict with the scaling up
law

The centre follows a child protection policy developed by SPYM. Treatment and
rehabilitation begins with detoxification of the child (first 5-7 days), followed by
therapeutic interventions including counselling, interactive sessions, group therapy, role
plays, bal panchayats and so on. After the first two weeks of admission, every child is
enrolled in literacy and life skills program, depending on the level of intervention
needed. These literacy and other skills are gradually scaled up and integrated with
other components of the project.

In addition, SPYM also emphasises on occupational rehabilitation (hyperlink) of

adolescents in recovery to help them secure gainful employment for securing their
social and economic empowerment.
The centre won the National Award from the President of India in 2014.
[Please note that the centre is exclusively for children referred through the Juvenile
Justice Board]

Drug De-addiction-cum-Rehabilitation Centre for Adults

Since 1990, we have been providing drug and alcohol treatment services at our Vasant
Kunj premises to adult male users under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Justice &
Empowerment, Govt. of India. This centre provides in house treatment facility for a
minimum of 30 days duration with all facilities being free of cost. Similar centres are
located in Chandigarh, Jammu, Darjeeling & Guwahati.
At these centres, we focus on Preventive Education and Awareness Generation,
Identification of substance dependent persons for motivational counselling,
Detoxification and Whole Person Recovery (WPR), Referral services, After-care and
Follow-up, Care and support to families for co-dependence and rehabilitation as well as
rehabilitation through vocational training utilising local resources.

Homeless Drug Users

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Drug Use is rampant among the homeless community; surveys conducted by SPYM and
our extensive experience in working with this vulnerable population have provided us
with adequate knowhow and expertise on the issue.
In order to reduce vulnerability of homeless community members to drug dependence
and crime, we are running Drug De-addiction & Rehabilitation Centres for male
Homeless Drug Users at Kotla Mubarakpur & Dakshinpuri in New Delhi.
Services that we are providing to homeless include detoxification, weekly doctor visits
and medical check-up facilities, psychological counselling and referral, individual, family
and group therapy, home visits and follow up services, non-formal education services
and linkages with schools, vocational training for future career opportunities,
educational programs on life skills and recreational facilities.

Halfway Homes

SPYM provides halfway home services for adolescents and young people recovering
from substance use. The aim is to ensure that they are able to stay away from drug
using peer/ situation in recovery without unwanted interference. They are encouraged
to leave once they have fully recovered and are supported to take up gainful pursuits
that are in tune with their needs and aptitudes. These halfway homes provide the
inmates with the necessary services required for a smooth transition from drug
dependence to leading a healthy productive life.
As they develop their chosen vocational skills and see opportunities open up before
them they no longer need to be told to become responsible citizens. In fact the aim is
to create an environment in which they begin to feel the need to lead responsible,
productive lives.

Telephone Helpline

Drug addicts and their families are provided information and counselling
pertaining to substance abuse treatment and related issues. The helpline
number is 011 2689 3872.

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 MENTAL HEALTH

SPYM runs Mental Health Unit for children at Sanskar Ashram for Boys and Girls,
Dilshad Garden, Delhi under the Department of Women & Child Development, Govt. of
NCT of Delhi. The centre caters to the needs of children who are in distress destitute,
neglected, abandoned, victims of atrocities, violence, sexual assault, family disputes,
etc. Their psychosocial background makes them highly vulnerable to behavioural and
psychological disorders. The aim is to ensure the psycho-social rehabilitation of all
residents suffering from psychiatric and other mental health problems.
Activities at the centre include Identification and Treatment of Mental illness, Facilitation
& Coordination and Preventive Counselling.

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 TUBERCULOSIS PREVENTION

SPYM is hosting the Global Coalition of TB Activists (GCTA) in New Delhi. The GCTA,
which started out as a WHO Community Task Force, has over the years evolved to
become a global platform. In this way it acts as a link connecting civil society
organisations and other stakeholders, thus ensuring that no part of the community is
left uncovered. Right since its inception in March 2013, the GCTA has been actively
engaged in global TB prevention through its network of activists.

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 CAPACITY BUILDING

REGIONAL RESOURCE & TRAINING CENTRE

SPYM has been designated as an RRTC by the Ministry of Social Justice &
Empowerment (MSJ&E) since 2000 for NGOs working in the field of substance abuse
prevention and counseling, De-addiction and rehabilitation programming. SPYM
provides training and technical support to over 100 NGOs located in the northern region
of the country, covering Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and
Uttarakhand.

RRTC North is tasked with carrying out need-based training programmes for the
professional development of service providers, technical backstopping, assisting in
programme implementation, research and documentation, development of training and
IEC materials, networking and advocacy, monitoring and inspection of NGOs,
monitoring the trends of drug abuse and HIV in the northern region, and
mainstreaming of the HIV/AIDS programme in ongoing drug abuse prevention drives.
The feedback SPYM gathers from these and other initiatives are used by the NCDAP,
MSJ&E and NACO, and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for formulation of a
national response.

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 TRAINING OF STAKEHOLDERS

We take it upon ourselves not only to train NGO functionaries working in the field of
Drug Abuse, but also those non profits and other faith based organisations which are
dealing with marginalised populations which may be susceptible to drug abuse.

These include organisations working with street children, homeless and other
vulnerable communities. These are conducted with the purpose of lending a helping
hand to those organisations who reach out to us to help orient their personnel on
dealing with drug using populations, with particular focus on children.

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 HOMELESS INTERVENTION
PROGRAM

NIGHT SHELTERS

SPYM is the largest shelter provider for homeless in the NCT of Delhi. With over 30
years of experience working with marginalised community in Delhi, SPYM has been
mandated to manage over 65 night shelter for homeless by Delhi Urban Shelter
Improvement Board, Govt. of NCT of Delhi.

Shelters for homeless in Central, South and South West Districts of Delhi provide
services to meet everyday needs of approximately 5500-6000 homeless children,
women, men and senior citizens on a daily basis. Shelter users are provided minimum
basic facility required by any human being that includes nutrition, shelter, protection,
medical care as well as linkage with Government schemes of social inclusion (Voter ID,
UID AADHAR, bank account opening, Support group formation). SPYM also provides
opportunity for livelihood promotion through building their employability skills.

Other activities involve non formal literacy, linkage with Government schools for
children and treatment for Substance Use Disorder (SUD), HIV testing and DOTS. SPYM
has an established linkage with prominent medical institutions namely Safdarjung
Hospital, AIIMS, RML and other health care institutions to facilitate medical assistance
and other health services to the homeless.

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SPYM closely works with key stakeholders like the Delhi Food Banking Network and
Residential Welfare Associations in Delhi for converging resources in the form of
refurbished electronic items, grocery, clothes, home furnishings to transform the night
shelters into a dignified living space for the homeless.
Facilities At Shelter Homes
Bunker beds or mattresses/Durries with pillow
Woolen blankets
Adequate lighting, electric fans and coolers
Washrooms
Community kitchen/Meals at select shelters
Safe drinking water
Lockers for keeping valuables
First Aid and periodic medical check-ups
Linkage with Govt. Schemes: UIDAI for Aadhaar, Voter ID
Vocational Training & Linkage with Livelihood Opportunities
Referral for drug dependence treatment services
Indoor games for recreation, TV and newspapers

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 RECUPERATIVE CARE

SPYM recovery centres addresses the critical needs of homeless after being discharged
from the hospital yet, for those still requiring medical attention.

Being homeless, these designated shelters are the only places for homeless that offer
proper aftercare until they recover. The program offers up to 45 patients at Sare Kale
Khan and 20 patients at Kalkaji, a safe and supportive environment, as well as meals,
health care attendant for medical treatment, and follow-up care.

After recovery, these homeless have alternatives to opt to stay at any of the shelter
homes run by SPYM. This provides further opportunity to prevent medical challenges of
living on streets, they are more likely to follow aftercare instructions, and therefore less
likely to need repeat hospital visits.

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 WINTER RESCUE PROGRAM

Extreme weather during winters further adds to the vulnerabilities & trauma for those
spending nights on the streets without any shelter, care and protection. Homeless may
often be seen sleeping on pavements, bus stops, under flyovers, parks. In absence of
aid, they often shiver to death.

SPYM conducts rescue operations throughout the year; intensifying operations during
the winter season to ensure that none of the urban homeless dies struggling with cold
weather in the vicinity of night shelters.

As part of rescue drive, SPYM has three rescue vehicles operational to attend
to SOS calls and assist in rescue process.
Activities

Motivating and shifting homeless from streets/ pavements to the nearest night shelter.
Providing first aid and other need based medical intervention (hospital admissions, Drug
treatment)
Ensuring provision of adequate clean blankets, durries and jute mattresses for all night
shelter dwellers and providing immediate relief to homeless spending night on streets.
Coordinating rescue service in coordination with the related help lines of the city such as
Police Control Room, Child Help Line etc.

RESEARCH AND SURVEY

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Research remains central to all SPYM activities and ventures. It has partnered research
projects with the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India,
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime, Regional Office for South Asia, UNAIDS and National Drug
Dependence Treatment Centre and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
among others.

Major research projects undertaken by SPYM include

National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) in the states of Haryana, Manipur,

Punjab & Chandigarh and Kerala & Lakshadweep in partnership with the
International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai and Ministry of Health &
Family Welfare, GOI (2015-16)
Mapping and Size Estimation of Street Children Who Use
Drugs In Delhi commissioned by the Department of Women & Child
Development, Government of NCT of Delhi with technical support from the
National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMS, New
Delhi. (2016)
Survey on Size Estimation of Opioid dependents in the state of
Punjab commissioned by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment,
Government of India with technical support from the National Drug Dependence
Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMS, New Delhi. (2015-16)
District Level Household & Facility Survey (DLHS-4) in the states of
Manipur and Tripura in partnership with the International Institute for
Population Sciences, Mumbai and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, GOI
(2012-13)
Comprehensive Socio-economic survey of Households in Jhuggi Jhopri
clusters in Delhi in partnership with the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement
Board, Govt. of NCT of Delhi
Mapping of HRG and other vulnerable population to HIV/AIDS in the
states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Tripura in partnership with
NACO (2008)
IDU size estimation study of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh in
partnership with NGOs, UNAIDS and AIIMS (2008)
Survey on HIV Vulnerability among IDUs, their spouses and children in
the North West and North Eastern part of India (2008)

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 National IDU size estimation surveyin partnership with 300 NGOs, DFID &
AIIMS (2007)
National KABP study in partnership with 300 NGOs, DFID & AIIMS (2006)
Mapping of vulnerable population groups in the five A category districts of
Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram.
Mapping of substance users in the Northern Indian States in partnership
with the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India and the
National Sample Survey Organisation (2007)
Household survey to map substance users in partnership with the Ministry
of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India and the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime (2001)
Study on profiling of substance users in partnership with the Ministry of
Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India (1999)

SKILL DEVELOPMENT
TRAINING

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At SPYM, we recognise that a simple three month treatment is not enough to
permanently wean away the person from drug use, and relapse is very likely. In order
to equip them with skills to reintegrate themselves into the mainstream, as well as to
help them stand on their own two feet, we conduct various certified skill development
and vocational training courses among both adults as well as adolescent children.

Some of these courses include:

Computer Fundamentals
Plumbing
Stitching & Tailoring
Mobile Repairing
Food production
Bakery

These courses are conducted in association with government schemes like the Technical
Education Community Outreach Scheme (TECOS) & Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas
Yojna (PMKVY).

Recently SPYM has launched a special endeavour known as Project Bawarchi with the
aim of rehabilitating young adolescents released from our Juvenile Centre into
productive livelihood ventures in order to prevent relapse and being ostracised by
society upon their relapse. The focus of the project is to attempt to assist former
residents to become entrepreneurs.

All participants in the program are current and former residents of the Juvenile Centre
above the age of sixteen. The long running food production course has been linked with
the Bawarchi program in order to train and certify the project team.

The following are the various components being run under the program

Food Stalls, operational inside nearby selected courts and University premises
Tiffin service in areas near the centre
Catering for parties and social functions
Mobile food services

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