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Other Facilities
The objective of reformation in Jails is that the prisoners on their release may
rehabilitate themselves as good citizens in the society with gainful employment for
earning their livelihood and even during their sentence, they can go out for work to
earn their livelihood, render assistance to their family members, support their children
to pursue education and interact with their family members easily. The medical
facilities, the living conditions in Jails, the training of Jails Staff and the several
reformative measures initiated in the department in the direction of reforming
prisoners by introducing “Open Air Scheme in more Jails”, “Mobile Canteens run by
the prisoners”, “Video Conferencing facility between the general public and inmates”
and “Dairy Farming” in Jails etc. played a pivotal role in the reformation process, as
detailed here under: -
(a) Medical facilities in Jails:
Whole time Doctors are posted, one each, in Central Jails at Kanda (Shimla),
&Nahan, LalaLajpat Rai District and Open Air Correctional Home, Dharamshala and
Open Air Jail Bilaspur.Doctors from Local Civil Hospitals visit the remaining Jails on
part-time for the medical check-up/treatment of the prisoners lodged there. One post
of Dispenser/Pharmacist has also been sanctioned for each of the Jails/Sub Jails to
assist the Doctors. In cases of serious illness, prisoners are sent to the District
Hospitals, Indira Gandhi Medical College Shimla, PGI Chandigarh and the Hospitals
situated in New Delhi. Mentally ill prisoners are sent to Mental Hospital Boileuganj,
Shimla-171005, Himachal Pradesh. Expenditure on medical treatment is borne by the
Government. Special medical check-up camps are organized by the Doctors of Indira
Gandhi Medical College Shimla and voluntary organizations to treat the ailing
prisoners.
(b) HIV and TB Profiling of Inmates: -
i. HIV Screening: -
Himachal Pradesh Prisons is the only Prison Department in
the Country where HIV and TB profiling of all inmates have been conducted.
Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers (ICTC) have been opened in all the
prisons of Himachal Pradesh where proper counseling and awareness by the
professionals are being provided. Total 23 HIV camps were organized in all the
prisons, in which, 2013 inmates were tested out of which 06 were found
positive.
ii. TB Screening:-
Regular screening for TB in all prisons is conducted regularly.
Total 1815 inmates have been screened in ICTC out of which 4 inmates
diagnosed TB and initiated DOTs (Directly Observed Treatment Short Course).
(c) Female Inmates and their Children:-
Himachal Pradesh Prisons are the only
such organization in the country that has taken the bold initiative of finding jobs
for incarcerated women outside the prisons. At the time, four female prisoners are
going outside the prison and earning wages. The Open Air Jail program is working
in all the prisons of Himachal Pradesh. There is no serious disease to women
inmates and not a single case of TB is noticed among women inmates in Himachal
Pradesh.
(d)Sanitary Health:-
Alive to the health and hygiene requirements of women
inmates, the Prisons Department has started a Sanitary Napkin making unit in
Model Central Jail, Nahan and napkins are being provided to all women inmates of
Himachal Pradesh, free of charge.
(e)Crèche to Children: -
Crèche has been opened for proper development of children
of female prisoners. The children are also provided with balanced diet. Preeducation
is also being provided to the Children.
(f) Diagnostic Labs: -
Five diagnostic laboratories have been opened in five
different prisons of Himachal Pradesh where Hepatitis, CBS, Lipid Profile, B.
Group, LFT, Sugar, EFR, KFT and Uric Acid tests are being done regularly. The
Department is extending three more labs in three another prisons. 12 inmates of
Hepatitis B and 06 inmates of Hepatitis C have been found in the prisons. Proper
medical care is being provided to these prisoners.
(g) Drinking Water: -
Aqua guards and ROs were installed to ensure availability of
clean drinking water to the inmates. The water samples from all the prisons have
also been tested and as per the Laboratory Test Reports, the drinking water being
supplied to the prisoners meets all the parameters. In the last 03 years, there has
been no water borne disease reported from any prisons of Himachal Pradesh.
(h) Open Air Gym
With a motive to improve the physical as well as mental health of the prisoners.
Open Air Gym has been established in Model Central Jail Kanda Kanda, Nahan
and Lala Lajpat Rai, District and Open Air Correctional
Home,Dharamshala.These Gyms are benefiting the prisoners to reduce their
stress level and are helpful to make them physically fit.
(i) e-PESHI:
The project of e-peshi has been introduced by the State Government
between the Hon’ble Courts and the concerned Jails for the purpose of Court
hearing of under trial prisoners and for those whom extension of judicial
remand is to be sought by producing them before the judicial magistrates,
virtually through Video Conferencing. This project is being utilized
successfully in all the Jails of Himachal Pradesh. It has reduced the huge cost
and deployment of manpower involved in the transportation and security
arrangements for physically producing these persons in various Courts across
the State.
TRAINING OF JAIL STAFF:
The Jail Officers/Officials of the status of Superintendent Jail/Deputy
Superintendent Jail/ Assistant Superintendent Jail and Head Warders/Warders are
deputed to undergo in-service training in different disciplines of PrisonsManagement
& Correctional work/administration at Sampurnanand Jail Training Institute Lucknow
(U.P.) and Punjab Jail Training Institute Patiala as there is no Jail Training Institution
in the State. However, during the year 2019, 139 newly recruited warders were
imparted 04 months training from Police Training College,Daroh(Dist. Kangra) on the
syllabus prescribed by Sampurnanand Jail Training Institute Lucknow (U.P.) with the
prior approval of the State Government as the training of Prisons officials in the State
Police Training Institute is economical and better in quality.
In addition to it, the Officers/officials of the department are also deputed for
short term courses for 03 to 05 days’ duration to Regional Institute of Correctional
Administration, Chandigarh and the Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public
Administration, Fair Lawns Shimla-171012.
FREE LEGAL AID FACILITY
The prisoners are provided copies of decisions by the respective Superintendent Jails
at the Govt. expense for the purpose of filing appeals and petitions in the Hon’ble
Courts of Law.
LIBRARY
Library is available in all the Jails of the State. Books and Newspapers are also
provided in all the Jails/Sub Jails of the State for improving the knowledge and
recreation of inmates.
LITERACY
Prisoners lodged in the Jails are provided stationery articles at Govt.
expense. In special circumstances, the prisoners are permitted to appear in academic
examinations by granting them parole/furlough.
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