Chandigarh, February 14: Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal said that inclusive attention is being paid to the mental, religious and social development of the prisoners locked in the jails of the state. The jails are functioning as correctional homes and the government is completely focused towards the improvement of the prisoners, he added.
There is also a provision to set up spiritual or meditation centers in Haryana jails so that they can meditate for peace of mind and relieve stress. Work is being done in the direction of bringing in behavioural changes of the prisoners so as to make them good citizens by converting Jails into Correctional Homes, said Sh. Manohar Lal.
The Chief Minister was speaking at a programme organized after inaugurating the newly constructed District Jail in Nuh on Monday.
We should hate the crime and not the criminal. In such a situation, better environment is being given to the prisoners in the jail premises for their improvement, said the Chief Minister. He said that continuous counseling process is being done for the prisoners in the jails and after their release; the police department will also counsel them at a later stage so that criminal tendency does not reoccur in them.
The Chief Minister directed the jail administration that the prisoners should not be tortured, but attention should be paid to their personality development so that whenever they are released they can restart their lives as good citizens in society. The offender should also get a chance to reform, he added.
He said that sports grounds should also be prepared for the physical development of prisoners in jails. Good jails are being built in the state and all necessary facilities are being provided to the prisoners, added the Chief Minister.
Many announcements made for jail officers and employees
The Chief Minister while making several announcements in the premises of newly inaugurated Nuh Jail which is the 20th jail of the state announced that the warder would be made the Exemptee Head Warder after serving 18 years as a jail warder on the lines of the police department. Jail superintendents will be provided vehicles for government work on the lines of other officers. Uniform allowance will be given to jail superintendent and officers working in higher posts so that they also attend their offices in proper uniform. Similarly, in the jail department, on the lines of the police department, extension of service will also be given after the President's medal. He said that the vacant posts in the jail department would be filled soon.
Doctors doing duty in jail will be exempted from duty in rural areas
The Chief Minister announced that the doctors of the Health Department, who were doing duty in the jail, would not be required to do the duty in rural areas. The service of jail will be considered equal to the duty of the rural area.
Religious discourses will change criminal life
The Chief Minister said that circumstances can lead anyone to do any crime. In such a situation, the opportunity of correction is very important for the criminal. He said that the mental disorders of criminals can be changed by including religious discourses in the jail premises. He said that only religious discourses can bring about a change in criminal life.
Nuh District Jail built at a cost of Rs. 68 crore
The Chief Minister informed that an amount of Rs. 68 crore has been spent on the construction of the district jail built in Salamba village in Nuh. The Jail is spread over a area of 29 acres and five kanals. There are three boundaries for the security of the jail. Six watch towers have been built inside for monitoring. The jail has a hospital, library, canteen, separate cell for security, administration block, control room and a shed for the prisoners. It has 12 barracks for prisoners, out of which 5 barracks are for male prisoners and one barracks for female prisoners and some other barracks have been made. A total of 846 prisoners can be kept in 12 barracks. This jail has been built by the Haryana Police Housing Corporation.
The number of prisoners in jails should be reduced: Ranjit Chautala
Power and Jail Minister, Sh. Ranjit Chautala said that a jail with all necessary facilities has been built in Nuh district. It is the endeavour of the State Government that the number of prisoners in jails should be reduced. He said that Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal is continuously working towards the improvement of the system. Many facilities are being provided to the prisoners in the jails so that they come out as good citizens.
Government has prepared a road map for the reform of jail administration
The Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Sh. Rajeev Arora informed that this is the 20th jail of the state, which has been inaugurated by the Chief Minister today. He said that the functioning of the jail has been made completely transparent. He said that a road map has been prepared by the government for the improvement of jail administration.
Director General, Prisons, Mohammad Akil said that the security is not compromised in any way and the prison is covered with state-of-the-art technology. Free Legal Aid Service including Modern Interview Room is being provided to the prisoners. He informed that Jail Radio Concept has been included in the state. VC room and yoga center services along with ensuring complete cleanliness are also being provided in the jail premises.
On this occasion, Director General of Police, P K Agarwal, MD, Haryana Police Housing Corporation, Dr. R C Mishra, ADGP CID, Sh. Alok Mittal, IG Rewari Range M. Ravi Kiran, IG Police Administration, Sh. Satender Gupta, District and Sessions Judge, Sh. Sandeep Garg, MLA Sohna, Sh. Sanjay Singh, and other concerned officials were present.