Around 18,000 undertrials in Maharashtra prisons can now call their families and talk for five minutes every week, with the first such 'coin box' facility in the state launched in Sangli district.
District Collector Shekhar Gaikwad inaugurated the facility in Sangli prison yesterday.
Earlier, a similar facility was available only to the convicts, numbering around 10,000 in the state.
"The facility to make a call to family members has been extended to undertrials, who can call family members once a week, for five minutes," state police's Deputy Inspector General (Jail) Swati Sathe said.
Gaikwad inaugurated the 'coin box' in the Sangli jail. The facility is expected to "cool down" undertrials, who sometimes panic and at times turn violent, he said.
"If the undertrials get to speak with their family members and get details of lawyers, it will work as a psychological support to them," Gaikwad said.
The contact details will be first verified by police and noted down by jail superintendents. The undertrials will be allowed to make calls to verified numbers only.
The undertrials can use the money they earn from their work or money-order for making the calls, Gaikwad said.
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