In rare move, Mumbai's Byculla Prison celebrates inmate's son's birthday
Last year Byculla Jail made it to news because of convict Manjula Shetye, who was allegedly beaten to death by six female officials. But today, it's in news for another reason, and a heart-warming one at that. On June 22, the birthday of a two-year-old, who has been staying with his inmate-mother since his birth, was celebrated in the jail amidst pomp and glory.
Menu had sheer khurma and chicken, gifts for birthday boy
Rishikesh, the birthday boy, was left gleaming, as he cut the cake, received gifts and danced to some of his favorite Bollywood songs, along with 21 other children. For others, the menu had sheer khurma and chicken dishes. This is a first-of-a-kind initiative taken by the Byculla Jail authorities "to make children realize that they aren't prisoners and that they have a separate identity."
Other plans: Starting Cartoon Network, distributing toys, outdoor play equipment
Festivals like New Year, Diwali and Eid are celebrated in Byculla Jail, where only children can take part. Now, as reform measures, the authorities are mulling starting Cartoon Network channel on television for the children, along with distributing toys and outdoor play equipment.
From now on, every child's birthday will be celebrated
Aruna Mugutrao, Byculla prison superintendent, said this is to ensure that when these children walk out of jail at the determined age of six, they don't go astray. She further said from now on, every child's birthday will be celebrated, of course within the jail premises. A few months ago, they had also organized the naming ceremony of three-month-old Armaan as per Muslim rituals.
Children will stay with inmate-mothers till they turn six: SC
In 2006, the Supreme Court had ordered that children up to the age of six can remain with their incarcerated mother and then should be placed with a surrogate, if the mother so wishes, or an institution maintained by the Social Welfare Department.
Not too long ago, Byculla Jail also celebrated Valentine's Day
In February this year, a wave of joy swept across all the Maharashtra jails, when Prisons Department made the inmates meet their children to celebrate Valentine's Day. It was implemented in nine central jails; In Byculla Jail, 55 children arrived right in the morning to meet their mothers, some 50 of them. An inmate from J&K was also connected to her children via video-conference.
