Govt promises more funds to states for prison reforms: Rajnath

The Centre today promised to provide more funds to all states for modernisation of prisons as condition of most of the jails in the country are "miserable".
Addressing a seminar on prison reforms, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said all recommendations on prison reforms made by the National Human Rights Commission should be properly implemented by the states and the Central government will take all possible steps in this regard.
"Condition in many jails is miserable. I will soon visit some of the jails in the country and see whether the NHRC recommendations were implemented partially...I will try to give more funds to states in the next five-year plan for modernisation of the prisons," he said.

The Home Minister said Central government wants to modernise prisons and as part of its plan it gave Rs 1,800 crore to states under Phase-I which was completed in March 2009.
On the issue of over crowding of jails, Singh said there was a need to check overcrowding in prisons and expressed concern that two-third of those living in prisons are under-trials.
The Home Minister said this aspect should be addressed by setting up fast-track courts.

He also said that Centre has asked the states to set up model prisons and only 6 states have set up such prisons so far.

"Efforts will be taken to set up more model prisons," he said.
The Minister said care should be taken on health and hygiene needs of all prisoners, especially women and their children, staying with them in jails.
Singh said as per a directive of the Supreme Court, the Home Ministry has suggested that those under-trial prisoners who have completed half of their possible prison term, should be released on bail.
Sharing his experience of staying in jails, he said he was imprisoned 4-5 times in different cases and once he had spent 18 months in jail while in another occasion he was placed under solitary confinement for three months.