Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
* Jail mimnister reviews the security arrangement of jails in a meeting with jail superintendents
* Yoga and meditation classes for inmates in all jails
Chandigarh, Mr. Sohan Singh Thandal, Jail Minister Punjab today issued directions to beef up security in the jails besides accelerating welfare activities to channelize the energies of jail inmates.
Reviewing the working of jail department, the jail minister said that security arrangement in jails must be beefed up in consonance with changing conditions and the use of modern gadgetry must be ensured to check the inflow of drugs and ammunition into the jails. In this context Mr. Thandal issued special directives to the jail staff to make proper use of x-ray machines, metal detectors, CCTV cameras and Jammers to check the suspicious and illegal material into the jails besides proper frisking of the visitors. The Minister said that the jail department has recently deputed sniffer dogs in central jails of the state. The services of these specialised and trained officers (dogs) must be availed at any other jail to check the inflow of drugs and ammunition into jail premises.
During the meeting infamous Bathinda jail incident was also discussed at length. “Jails are being considered state within state and the security breach in jails can not be tolerated. The Bathinda jail incident is intolerable and inexcusable such kind of incident should not be happen in future”. he said. Mr. Thandal admitted that this incident has earned bad name for the jail department and this could have been averted with foolproof security check up.
During the meeting some jail superintendents brought the issue of staff crunch into the notice of the Minister. In reply to such observations, the Minister told that 39 new Deputy Jail Superintendents have recently been recruited. Divulging further detail he said that 23 Assistant Superintendent have been promoted as Deputy Superintendent whereas 16 Deputy Superintendent have been recruited directly through PPSC.
During the review of Drug De-addiction activities Mr. Thandal appreciated the Jail staff for making all out efforts in checking the drug inflow into the jails considerably. It was informed that till date in total 27000 jail inmates have successfully been treated in the Drug de-addiction centres in the jails.
The Minister instructed the Jail Superintendents to maintain proper liaison with the local police as well to track the activities of the prisoner going out on parole. He said that the coordination with the local police could also be very useful in conducting surveillance operations and patrolling of the outer walls of the jails.
Mr. Thandal also took stock of the various welfare activities being conducted in jails. He praised the jail staff for successfully running the Jail Canteens. He said that besides generating revenue these canteens have been engaging the inmates in productive activities. He directed the officers to maintain proper record of the income generated by these canteens. All the Jail Superintendents have been instructed to commence the Yoga and Meditation classes for the inmates. The Minister said that such kind of welfare activities would be instrumental in maintaining discipline and for brining behavioural change in the mind of inmates.
Prominent amonst other who were present in the meeting included Sant Balbir Singh Ghunas, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Principal Secretary Jails, Mr. Rajpal Meena, ADGP, Jails, Mr. Jagjit Singh IG, Jails, Mr. Lakhminder Singh Jakhar, DIG, Jails, Mr. Roop Kumar, AIG, Jails and Jail Superintendents of all the jails.
