Hailing several developmental initiatives being implemented by the Assam Prison Headquarters (APH) of the Government of Assam, a Parliamentary Committee has suggested to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to pursue other State Governments to implement similar initiatives in their jails.
The Parliamentary Committee in its latest report said that such initiatives would change prisons from being institutions of punishment into institutions of reformation and rehabilitation.
Significantly, under the SRIJAN Initiative, the APH has been aiming to transform jails into correctional homes for rehabilitation of prisoners by providing financial assistance & training for post-release settlement and livelihood.
Representatives from Assam and other State Governments had in the recent past interacted with the Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs on prison reforms.
The Committee appreciates the initiative taken by the Assam Government and recommends that all States and UTs should also strive to implement such initiatives to usher in prison reforms and rehabilitation of the prisoners.
The Committee chaired by Rajya Sabha MP Brijlal in its report, tabled in Parliament recently, has noted that the jail inmates are also deprived of contact with their family and friends for an indefinite period.
“Such separation makes them feel isolated and lonely which can be stressful for them,” the committee said.
To address this issue, the Committee recommends implementing programmes like – “Ashirvad Anusthan” of Assam where children of convicts meet them to take blessings for their Class 10 examinations; “Sparsh” of Delhi to provide financial assistance to prisoners with no family, “touch and feel” of Tamil Nadu where prison inmates are allowed to meet and touch their family members. It said that such ideas would enable inmates to cope up with loneliness and stress.
Talking to Asom Barta, Deputy Inspector General of Prisons, Assam, Dilip Saikia said that his Department will try to implement more initiatives in the coming days.
“Our effort is to change prisons from being institutions of punishment into institutions of reformation and rehabilitation,” said Saikia.
He said that the APH will take several other initiatives in near future.
The Parliamentary Committee also hailed Assam’s “Gyan Safura”, initiative that will provide for a separate library for women prisoners of Guwahati Central Jail. Significantly, a music school has also been started in Guwahati Central Jail.
The committee has found that jail inmates are deprived from contact with their family and friends for an indefinite period and as such they feel isolated.
“Facilities for interview with family members, and defence counsel must be provided to them based on their requirements. Inmates of diverse backgrounds who are admitted in jails must opt for available vocational and training courses inside jails,” the Committee said in its report highlighting some of the challenges in prison.
The Committee also appreciates the initiative of the APH to present the “Prerona Bota” to the employees and staff of jails for their exemplary services. The Committee recommended that an award programme should be conducted for acknowledging the prison staff for their dedication and outstanding contributions towards maintaining secure and rehabilitative correctional environments.
“Various categories of awards such as exceptional performance, teamwork, innovation, and positive interactions with inmates may be given to the staff. Recognition of their work will boost their morale and job satisfaction,” the Committee said.
The Committee also hailed the Department’s Opioid Substitute Therapy (OST) for de-addiction from drugs.
“The States and UTs may consider planning programmes such as Opioid Substitute Therapy (OST) as in the case of Assam to de-addict and wean away such prisoners, in the jails,” the Committee said in its report.
Praising the APH for taking several initiatives, Lok Sabha MP and a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, Geetha Viswanath Vanga said that programmes such as SRIJAN, Ashirvad Anusthan and Gyan Safura will play major roles in prison reforms.
“In our report we have suggested to the Home Ministry to pursue other State Governments to implement the Assam model in other States,” said Vanga, an MP representing Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSR Congress) from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.
