Positive Engagement of Inmates In Jail 17 18

Positive Engagement of Inmates In Jail 17 - 18 Sep 2019 Prisons & Correctional Services Department Madhya Pradesh Bhopal

Engagement of undertrials

Issues related to engagement of under trials There is a need to consider and think about the subject of engagement of under trials in prisons because of following reasons: • As per Prison Statistics India 2016, around 67 % of inmates in India are under trials (2, 93, 058 out of total 4, 33, 003) • As per Prison Statistics India 2016, around 75. 4 % of under trials were confined for a period of less than one year or one year • As per Prison Statistics India 2016, under trials confined for less than 3 months were 36. 8 %, remaining 63. 2% for more than 3 months • Similarly, in Madhya Pradesh, as on 31 July 2019, out of total 43091 inmates, number of under trials was 23, 464 (Male -22559, Female-905) • Thus, to plan to engaging under trials can be a complex exercise as quite a high number of them stay in jail for a short duration

Issues related to engagement of undertrials The issues specific to undertrials in prisons are following: • Most of the under trials arrive in jail for the first time • A large number of under trials are young in age • The jail environment is shocking for most of the first time under trials • The jail environment creates a state of uncertainty about likely release • Sudden lack of communication – they are cutoff from society, physically as well as on social media (which they are abundantly used to) • First time feeling of confinement • So, for the purpose of developing plan for engagement of under trial, they can be divided into following two groups • Short term UT - Under trials staying in jail for less than three months • Long term UT - Under trials staying in jail for more than three months up to one year and - Under trial staying in jail for more than one year

Daily Schedule of Prisoners in Sagar Jail Daily Schedule for Under Trials is shown below Time Engaged in activity Engaged for Remarks duration 6 AM to 8 AM Prayer, update on jail rules etc. , yoga, cleaning etc. 2 hrs Open Lockup 8 AM to 10 AM Read Newspaper, books 2 hrs Lockup 10 AM to 12 N Mulakat, VC, Incoming Telephone, Lunch etc. 2 hrs Open Lockup 12 N to 4 PM TV, Chess, Caroms, Ludoo etc. 4 hrs Lockup 4 PM to 6 PM Walking, Food distribution 2 hrs Open Lockup 6 PM to 10 PM Religious activity, Dinner, TV etc. 4 hrss Lockup 10 PM to 6 AM Sleep 8 hrs Lockup Hence, Under Trial can go out of barrack for 6 hrs only in a day

Lockup time of Under Trials and Convicts Lock up time for a Convict is shown below: Time Engaged in activity Engaged for Remarks duration 6 AM to 6 PM CO Duty and CNW Duty Min 6 hrs and max 8 hrs Open Lockup 8 AM to 11 AM And 2 PM to 6 PM Bahar Kaman, cleaning work, Garden work and other similar work in jail Min 6 hrs and max 8 hrs Open Lockup 8 AM to 11 AM Industry work, IGNOU & 2 PM to 6 PM classes, ITI classes 6 hrs Open Lockup 6 PM to 6 AM 12 hrs Lockup Religious activity, Dinner, TV etc. and sleep Convict is open for 8 hrs in a day

Engagement of Convicts in various tasks Engagement of number of Convicts in various jail tasks is shown below for Sagar Jail: Time Engaged in activity Engaged for Number of duration Convicts 6 AM to 6 PM CO Duty Min 6 hrs & max 8 hrs 120 6 AM to 6 PM CNW Duty Min 6 hrs & max 8 hrs 145 8 AM to 11 AM Bahar Kaman, cleaning & 2 PM to 6 PM work, Garden work etc. Min 6 hrs & max 8 hrs 364 8 AM to 11 AM Industry work & 2 PM to 5 PM IGNOU, ITI, etc. 6 hrs 441 30 Old & sick not put on work 189 Total Convicts 1289

Comparative Analysis of Daily Schedule of Convicts & Undertrials Examination of data about confinement of an Under Trial indicates following: • Convict is more free in jail as compared to an Under Trial • An Under Trial is confined to barrack in lockup for almost 18 hrs. in a day • An Under Trial is in Open Lockup just for 6 hrs. in a day • An Under Trial being still new in jail, is not accepting confinement, mentally • An Under Trial is quite likely thinking of escape from jail Due to above reason, an Under Trial has to be treated very differently as compared to a Convict, by jail administration

Reasons for focusing on Central Jails for Under Trial engagement Following are the reasons for proposal of focusing on Under Trials of Central Jails of Madhya Pradesh for planning “Positives Engagement of Inmates”: • Higher Under Trial population in a Central Jail • Sufficient Convicts are available in a Central Jail to handle housekeeping and other duties • Long term Under Trials are also more in number in Central Jails • Sufficient availability of corrections staff like Law/Probation & Welfare officers as well as Teachers/PTI/ITI and IGNOU Centers in Central Jail • Number of Central Jails is limited to 11 in Madhya Pradesh enabling a more focused approach at this limited umber • Head of the Central Jails is a well experienced Central Jail Superintendent who can guide the initiative more effectively • Central Jails being at big towns, better support of Universities and NGOs is available at these jails Once the concept stabilizes at Central Jails, then it will be extended to District Jails

Engagement of Convicts

Present Status of Engagement of Convicts are deployed on security duty basically because of shortage of security staff at prisons. As per Prison Statistics India 2016, at All India level, the overall percentage of actual to sanctioned strength of jail staff is 65. 4% Presently, convicts are engaged in following tasks: • Prison security related work • Office work and computer related tasks • Work under skill development program • Work as paramedical staff • Work in cookhouse of prison • Work in agriculture farm of prison • Engagement for education and training courses • Training in music and orchestra • Work in cow shelter of prison

Present Status Engagement in Security related work Details of Security Related Duties • Convict displaying good conduct are put on C. O. and C. N. W. duty • Reliable convict and who are eligible for parole are put of security duty at inner wall • Security duty at circle gate • Duty as Barrack In charge in barracks • Duty for Mulakat related work every day

Present Status Engagement in Kaushal Vikas related work Details of Kaushal Vikas related work: • Training under various trades such as Electrician, Two Wheeler mechanic, Carpenter, and Tractor Mechanic etc. at ITIs in prisons • Engage in work related to traditional industries for making Kurta, Blankets, Dari and Aasan etc. • Train and engage in industries such as Handloom etc. setup in prisons with the help of NGOs. Make cloth items under these. • Train and engage in industries setup with help of NGOs for making Papad, Chatni, Badi etc. eatables • Train and engage lady inmates if tailoring, weaving, embroidery and beauty parlor etc • Train and engage in Screen Printing and Offset printing

Present Status Engagement in Paramedical staff related work Details of Paramedical staff related work: • There is a severe shortage of doctors, compounders and paramedical staff in prisons • There is urgent need of male nurse and compounders in prisons • To meet this requirement, a six months training on paramedical services has been setup at Bhopal jail • Convict are trained as paramedical staff here and then are deployed in jail to provide assistance in health services to inmates

Present Status Engagement in kitchen related work Details of kitchen related work: • Convict are trained in cooking work in prison • These trained convict are assigned kitchen related work to cook three meals • Convict are also assigned work related to food distribution

Present Status Engagement in Agriculture and Cow related work Details of agriculture and cow related work: • A lot of convicts are from rural background • These convicts are mostly familiar with agriculture related work • Such convict are put for agriculture work in prison fields • Some of the prisons also have cow houses. Convicts are put here to take care of feed for cow, their health monitoring and taking care of calf also. • Breeding of good variety of cow is also undertaken by them • They are also trained to setup modern Cow Houses to run them as industry, after release from prison.

Present Status Engagement in Music and Orchestra work Details of Music and Orchestra: • Music is a very relaxing and smoothening activity • Convicts are encouraged to take up music and singing activities at prisons • Bhopal jail has a well setup orchestra with latest musical instruments available to them • The Orchestra consists of convicts of Bhopal jail and they perform in events outside jail also • Convicts released from Bhopal jail have formed a regular Orchestra now, who perform at social events and functions and make a living out of it

Present Status Engagement in Education Details of engagement in education: • Convicts are given free education in Madhya Pradesh jails • Jails run classes for all illiterate convicts for them to learn reading and writing • Those educated convicts who are keen to pursue further / higher education are provide all facilities for same • IGNOU has setup their centers at jails for various educational programs • Teaching classes as well as exams are conducted by the IGNOU within jail premises

Conclusion • High number of UT in a jail itself is a challenge – how to reduce it? • Nuanced approach is needed • UTs to be considered under different categories to plan their gainful engagement • Gainful engagement can be achieved if sufficient jail staff is provided at jails • Advanced age factor of inmates will remain a challenge for planning their gainful engagement – no gainful engagement may be possible for advanced age / old and chronic sick inmates