Imphal, Jul 22 (DIPR): The facility of video conferencing between outlying Courts and the two jails of the State has started functioning from July 5, said P Doungel, Addl DGP (Prisons), during a press conference organized by DIPR at DIPR premises here today. It would save time and eliminate security risk of carrying the prisoners to the Courts, he said.
Manipur Jail Department has taken up various reformative measures for the inmates at the two jails of the State to enable the prisoners to return to normal life after their release and also to improve their quality of life, he said.
He said Yoga activities are done in both the jails to help improve the overall health of the prisoners. Gym facility is available for the prisoners at Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa, he said and added that necessary equipments for the gym were donated by Animal Gym.
About 180 prisoners are actively working out at the gym every day, P Doungel said and added that 20 prisoners are accommodated on rotational basis at a time. The gym has improved the health of many inmates and given them a positive outlook about life, he said. The male prisoners in Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa are taught the art of making of plastic bags and plastic stools so as to enable them to earn their livelihood. Female inmates lodged in Manipur Central Jail, Imphal are imparted tailoring and embroidery training on a rotational basis under the supervision of expert instructors sponsored by the State Social Welfare Department, P Doungel said.
Saying that the Department provides one sewing machine each to every trainee free of cost after their release from the jail, P Doungel said that the method of making of dhoop, dolls and making of dish washing detergent powder and liquid are also imparted to the female inmates.
There is painting section and music room for the inmates as well, he said and added that Primary/basic education to the illiterate inmates of Manipur Central Jail, Imphal is given by a teacher of the Jail Department so that the inmates may be able to read and write when they leave the jail.
An IGNOU Special Study Centre had been opened in Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa on November 29, 2011. Both the jails have a Legal Aid Clinic Cell each which caters to the need of the inmates, he said. Various programmes and classes for spiritual upliftment, gardening are encouraged. Library has also been set up for providing reading facilities to the inmates, P Doungel said.
He said, “We love the prisoners, so we give counselling to the inmates as most of them suffer from depression.” The jail staff have been taking up preventive measures to avoid unwanted incidents by the life convicts and other categories of prisoners who have deep depression and suicidal tendencies particularly due to the Supreme Court’s order dated 9/7/2014.
The Supreme Court of India has however relaxed the State Government for grant of remission to the convicts in some selected cases. However, the convicts sentenced under sexual offences cases and murders have no remission, he said.
Special interviews are made mandatory for prisoners whose family members and relatives have not visited for more than one month. He said the Government had been requested to create a post of Psychiatrist or depute a Psychiatrist to help the inmates. Facilities for indoor as well as outdoor games like carrom, chess, Chinese checkers, badminton, volley ball and sepaktakraw are provided to the inmates, he said and added that annual sports meet is also held every year.
For effective grievance redressal system, complaint boxes have been installed inside the jails, P Doungel said and added that these are opened once in a week. This year a sum of Rs 10 lakh has been allocated for the Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa. The staff undergo refresher courses from time to time, he said.
P Doungel said that there are three female inmates with children (aged 8 months, 4 months and 3 months) in Manipur Central Jail, Imphal. As per the Jail Manual, a child up to six years of age is allowed to be admitted in the jail with mother, he said.
The Jail Department is one of the oldest institutions and functioning even now at the same location. The Manipur Central Jail, Imphal having an area of 8 acres was set up in 1906. Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa covers an area of 105 acres, he said.
The capacity at both jails is 770 (including 200 females) while the prisoner population is 678. There are also District Jails at Churachandpur, Chandel and a Sub-Jail at Jiribam. However, these are not functional as the jails do not have enough inmates, P Doungel said. All the prisoners are medically examined by the Jail Medical Officers at the time of their admission in the jail. They are provided medical care round the clock.
Critically ill inmates are referred to JNIMS/RIMS Hospital, he said. Food and water as per the prescribed norm of the State Government is supplied to the jail inmates, he said. Imphal Central Jail SP Th Subhaschandra and Sajiwa Jail SP W Phanitphang and other senior jail authorities attended the press conference. Th Subhaschandra said that 10 Myanmarese and one Bangladeshi are currently lodged in the jail. W Phanitphang said that 20 foreigners are currently lodged in Sajiwa jail. He further said that of the 34 CCTV cameras installed inside Sajiwa jail, 20 are not working.
