Restoring Dignity and Livelihood: The State Social Welfare Rehabilitation Centre Model

Restoring Dignity and Livelihood: The State Social Welfare Rehabilitation Centre Model

Problem

  • Need for whole-person recovery for women facing alcohol dependence, substance abuse, behavioural issues, marital trauma, and exploitation
  • Lack of skills for sustainable livelihood, making it difficult for rehabilitated women to reintegrate into society
  • Inefficient functioning of the centre, with outdated treatment modules, administrative processes, and limited institutional capacity
  • Low quality of services, requiring improvement in treatment, facilities, staff capacity, and guidelines
  • Growing demand for rehabilitation services, with only one centre in the state to address increasing cases

Solution

  • Infrastructure revamp and facility enhancement, including new building completion, increased bed capacity (from 30 to 50), and improved accommodation
  • Upgraded treatment guidelines and enhanced methodologies, covering behavioural therapy, care models, and skill learning courses
  • Strengthening operational & administrative guidelines, improving discipline, processes, HR systems, and centre-wide standards
  • Continuous staff training, with external experts, appraisals, and handholding support to increase proficiency and competency
  • Participatory planning & site assessments, ensuring realistic solutions, departmental approvals, and coordinated implementation

Outcomes

  • Centre capacity increased, now able to accommodate 50 inmates at a time with improved infrastructure and support systems
  • Better care and improved skill development, enabling inmates to strengthen life skills, livelihoods, and personal recovery
  • Recognition of capability, with the centre selected to house displaced Rohingya Muslims during COVID-19 due to its proven operational strength
  • High rehabilitation impact, with 1320 women successfully rehabilitated and reintegrated—an increase in both quantity and quality of outcomes
  • Efficient staffing and service delivery, resulting in smoother operations, higher discipline, and improved patient care

Project Details

Category: Livelihoods
Project Title: State Social Welfare Rehabilitation Centre (SSWRC), Aizawl
Department or District: Directorate of Social Welfare and Tribal Affairs
State: Mizoram
Start Date of the Project: 1990 (inaugurated as a Protective Home); upgraded to rehabilitation model in 2016
Website: https://socialwelfare.mizoram.gov.in/

Tribe(s) that the Project Covers: Mizo and other Scheduled Tribes residing in Mizoram

Keywords: Tribal Rehabilitation, Addiction Recovery, Tribal Women, Tribal Empowerment

The State Social Welfare Rehabilitation Centre (SSWRC) located in Aizawl, Mizoram, serves as a model for holistic, gender-sensitive rehabilitation focused on tribal and marginalized women who have experienced substance abuse, exploitation, or homelessness. Originating as a Protective Home under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, the centre has evolved into a robust institutional framework for recovery and reintegration.

The Project

Established in 1990, the SSWRC transitioned into a full-fledged addiction recovery and rehabilitation centre following a government order in July 2016. It functions as both a protective home and a de-addiction facility, specifically for women. The centre’s objective is to heal, rehabilitate, and restore vulnerable women to a dignified life through psychosocial interventions, vocational training, and spiritual development. It provides shelter, therapeutic services, and skill-building activities under a sustainable, community-integrated framework. In 2017, the facility shifted to a solar-powered building supported by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the North Eastern Council.

Problems that it Intends to Solve

The project addresses multiple layers of vulnerability including addiction, social ostracization, homelessness, and lack of access to vocational training. It confronts the absence of a structured and gender-sensitive rehabilitation framework in Mizoram. Women returning from trafficking or struggling with substance dependence often lacked institutional support for healing, reskilling, and reintegration.

What was the Need

There was a dire need for a specialized space catering to women facing layered trauma, often in silence due to societal stigma. With rising substance abuse and increasing numbers of women affected by trafficking or social rejection, the state lacked an integrated institutional model for recovery. This project aimed to fill that void with a multidisciplinary support system.

What Hindered its Introduction

Initially, infrastructural limitations and lack of formal recognition posed hurdles. The absence of comprehensive policy and multi-sectoral coordination for women’s rehabilitation made it difficult to consolidate a strong foundation. Cultural stigma and poor awareness also hindered early efforts at community engagement and reintegration.

Process Followed for Implementation

The Directorate of Social Welfare and Tribal Affairs spearheaded the initiative by restructuring the Protective Home into a Rehabilitation Centre. Government support came through multiple schemes including funding for infrastructure from the North Eastern Council and MNRE. Policy support was formalized through a state-level order recognizing the centre as a treatment facility in 2016.

  • Involvement of NGO
    • The project partnered with local NGOs such as VOLCOMH, alongside academic institutions like Mizoram University and HATIM. These partnerships enabled community outreach, counseling, and skill-building support. NGOs were instrumental in community acceptance, legal aid, and volunteer engagement.
  • Involvement of Community
    • The model actively integrated community participation through local churches, alumni mentors, and village councils. Community volunteers participated in outreach, life-skills workshops, and reintegration efforts, creating a culturally grounded approach to rehabilitation.

Solutions Implemented

The centre delivers a multidisciplinary recovery approach comprising psychosocial counseling, vocational training, legal aid, and medical referral services. It houses women for up to seven months under structured protocols. Services also include daycare for accompanying children, linkages with adoption centres, and family therapy. Residents receive training in tailoring, weaving, computing, and art. Spiritual healing is incorporated through yoga, meditation, and Bible study.

Details of the Coverage

The centre caters to women from all districts in Mizoram and has served over 1,000 individuals since inception. It operates with a capacity of 55 residents and has formal admission and reintegration procedures that engage both the applicant and their family.

Innovation and Unique Features

  • The project stands out due to its self-sufficiency model, including solar-powered infrastructure, community-supported funding, and a peer mentorship program. Alumni contribute as role models, strengthening post-care resilience. It is the only government-run female rehabilitation centre in the region with this integrated and multidisciplinary framework.
  • By integrating solar technology for sustainable operations, and structuring recovery through capacity-building workshops in tailoring, computer literacy, and creative arts, the project ensures that recovery is aligned with employability. Cultural elements such as community prayer, spiritual reflection, and local crafts are embedded in the programme.
  • The incorporation of traditional community wisdom, leadership of tribal volunteers, and involvement of local elders shaped the culturally-sensitive approach. Local idioms and symbols of healing were used in spiritual and psychological counselling.
  • As demand increased and individual recovery durations extended, the centre adapted by lengthening its stay protocol from five to seven months. Skill courses were diversified based on feedback. Alumni networks and stakeholder outreach expanded organically, and the model began incorporating aftercare services and income-generation pathways.

Challenges Faced Before Implementation

  • Initially, the protective home lacked expertise in addiction recovery and rehabilitation methodologies. Staff were not trained in trauma-informed care or psychosocial support.
  • There was limited public and policy awareness about the need for female-centric recovery spaces. The social stigma surrounding inmates hampered community acceptance and reintegration efforts.
  • Training modules were developed for staff. Collaborations were formed with academic institutions for curriculum development and legal partners for case support. Community mobilization events and awareness campaigns improved acceptance.

Challenges Faced During Implementation

  • The shortage of trained government personnel led to heavy dependence on volunteers and part-time facilitators. Space limitations became apparent as demand grew.
  • Maintaining continued engagement with families post-discharge proved difficult. Reintegration was often resisted due to stigma or socio-economic factors. Interdepartmental convergence was slow initially.
  • Peer mentorship networks and family therapy were introduced. Administrative reforms allowed the Centre to register as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), enabling independent fundraising. Partnerships with churches and NGOs bridged resource gaps.

Outcomes

  • Quantitative
    • More than 300 women have undergone successful rehabilitation. Over 1,000 individuals have benefited from shelter, legal aid, or outreach. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre supported 11 displaced Rohingya families in coordination with the Home Department.
  • Qualitative
    • Residents reported improvements in emotional stability, economic independence, and social reintegration. The spiritual and community-based framework ensured culturally rooted healing.
  • Monitoring and evaluation
    • Monthly reporting and internal assessments were conducted. Monitoring indicators included program retention, reintegration success, income generation, and family support.

Beneficiaries

  • Primary beneficiaries include tribal and marginalized women affected by addiction or exploitation. Indirect beneficiaries include their children, families, and communities.
  • The model is replicable in other Northeastern states. Its adaptability, low-cost operations, and community integration make it ideal for scale-up.
  • Recognized by the Mizoram Government as a state-level addiction recovery institution. Linked with multiple state welfare policies on women, health, and child rights.
  • Partial sustainability achieved through community donations, vocational income, and convergence with schemes. Human resource costs remain dependent on government funding.
  • Other districts in Mizoram have shown interest in replicating the model. Documentation and community outreach materials have been prepared to support scale-up.

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