Punjab CM Amarinder Singh favors open jails for female prisoners
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has favoured the setting up of open jails for the female prisoners in the state to ease their rehabilitation after release, an official said yesterday. The first-of-its-kind prison will allow the female inmates to work outside the inner prison premises, the official said, adding that Singh has sought a proposal from the Department of Prisons.
Singh recently inaugurated newly-constructed waiting hall for the inmates' families
Singh had on Saturday inaugurated the newly-constructed waiting hall for the families of the inmates during his visit to the Patiala Central Jail. He was informed by the Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) Rohit Chaudhary that an open jail for male inmates already existed in Nabha and there was a proposal to set up more such jails in Bathinda, SBS Nagar and Kapurthala.
Waiting halls well equipped with facilities, informs official
The official said, the waiting hall would be beneficial for the families of inmates coming from distant places, who earlier had to wait in the open or makeshift sheds. "These waiting halls are well equipped with facilities like washrooms, water coolers, television etc," he informed.
Halls have been constructed in Central Jail Patiala, Ludhiana, Kapurthala
"Utility stores have also been set up in these waiting halls from where the families can buy items of daily need and give them to their inmate relatives," an official release said. The halls are constructed in Central Jail Patiala, Ludhiana and Kapurthala, and work is in progress in Central Jail Ferozpur, Hoshiarpur, New Jail Nabha and District Jail Sangrur, it added.
Jail canteens to use carry bags made from waste newspapers
Chaudhary also told Singh that the government had already approved Rs. 60cr to purchase security equipment, weapons, building infrastructure and modernization of prisons, and also for purchase of vehicles for the Prison Department to further strengthen the existing infrastructure in the state jails. Further, all the prisons were declared polythene-free and carry bags used in canteens will be made from waste newspapers, he added.
'E-purse system' to enable prisoners buy daily need items
On the occasion, Singh also launched 'e-purse system' to facilitate prisoners to buy items of daily needs inside the jail. The system has also been introduced in 15 prisons across the state, where all the financial transactions would be conducted through computer software with the help of smart cards. The chief minister also inaugurated a solar power plant installed in the local Central Jail.
Singh also reviewed security of Central Jail Patiala
Solar-plants was in order to make the jail eco-friendly. Chaudhary further informed Singh that such solar-plants were also being set up in 19 other prisons state-wide. Later, Singh also visited the high-security zone of Central Jail Patiala, where hardcore criminals are lodged, and reviewed it.
