Maharashtra: Women prisoners, open jail inmates can now make video-calls
Women prisoners and inmates of open jails across Maharashtra can now make video calls to their families and relatives. This could be the first-of-its-kind initiative for prisoners in the country, claimed an official of the Prison Department of Maharashtra Government. Under the initiative, the Prison Department has started a smart video-calling facility for inmates lodged in women's jails and open prisons, the official said.
Prisoners will be charged Rs. 5 for availing service
Prisoners can talk to their family members for 5 minutes and are charged Rs. 5 for the service. "It was initiated on a pilot-basis at Central Prison at Yerawada in Pune... now it has been started in women's jails and open prisons," the official said.
Smartphones have been purchased from the Prisoners Welfare Fund
Through the video calling facility, prisoners can speak to their relatives or family members for 5 minutes on a given day on mobile phone numbers registered with the Prison Department, the official said. Smartphones being used for the video facility, which brings inmates and their family members face to face, have been purchased by dipping into the Prisoners' Welfare Fund, the official said.
Whole conversation will be monitored by police constable
The whole conversation is monitored by a police constable to ensure the video chat centers only around family issues and the well-being of each other, the official said. Earlier, the Department had installed coin box phones inside jails to enable inmates to speak to their family members. These phones were installed on court orders and prisoners could use them for 5 minutes, he said.
28,000 prisoners lodged in 54 jails across Maharashtra
Around 28,000 prisoners, including convicts, and undertrials, are lodged in 54 jails across Maharashtra. Among them, 13 are open prisons and two are women's jails. Besides, the Department has set up high-tech rooms in all prisons with thick glass partitions separating inmates and visitors, the official said. In these rooms, inmates and their family members can see each other and converse through a mic.
1.11L undertrial prisoners produced before courts using video conference facility
Maharashtra has taken a lead in using video conferencing facility to produce undertrial prisoners in courts for hearings, the official said. Last year, 1.11L undertrials were produced before various courts, he said, adding, "This year, we are expecting this number to top 1.5L." In another initiative called 'Galabhet' (embrace your child), children aged below 16yrs are allowed to meet their parents lodged in jails.
Prisoners can also take medicine advice over telephone from doctors
"We've also started telemedicine initiative for prisoners, under which they can get medical advice over the telephone from doctors," the official said. Maharashtra Prison Department, headquartered in Pune, oversees nine central jails, 31 district jails, 13 open jails, and 172 sub-jails. There are two separate prisons for women at Pune and Mumbai. Two open prisons for women are located in Pune and Akola.
