The State Government on Wednesday decided to set up a Jail Academy and establish eight new jails, including two open-air jails. Besides, the Government is seriously considering raising a Special Security Battalion with special armed police force to provide security coverage and protection of jails, particularly in the maoist-affected areas, from threat of external attack.
A high-level meeting on the jail reforms held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik decided to set up six new jails at Soro in Baleswar district, Kashipur in Rayagada,
Kantabanji in Balangir, laxmipur in Koraput and M-79 in Malkangiri district in addition to the existing 85 jails and sub-jails in the State to cater to the growing numbers of prisoners, which have gone up to 14,170.
It was also decided to set up a Jail Academy at Jamujhari in Bhubaneswar and two more Open-Air Jails at Nilgiri in Baleswar district and Jujumara in Sambalpur district at costs of Rs.18 crore.
The Jail Academy would provide training to jail personnel, particularly the Correctional Service personnel, in regular intervals. Taking into consideration the long tedious 24-hour duty hours, it was also decided to shift duty for eight hours for each jail employee. Since the new duty system needs more manpower, the Chief Minister approved a proposal for fresh recruitment of employees.
While for better medical treatment of the prisoners two 30-bed hospitals are nearing completion at Baripada and Chowdwar, it was decided to establish two more such hospitals at Brahmapur and Sambalpur.
The meeting also deliberated on the issue of providing education to the children of prisoners and to ensure better hostel facilities to these children in Bhubaneswar by expanding the capacity soon. In order to provide rehabilitation of the released prisoners, it was also decided to impart vocational training in more trades to them.
The Chief Minister asked the jail administration to instal security gadgets like CCTV, mobile jammers and baggage scanners in all jails.
The meeting also considered the proposals to create posts of Prison Welfare Officers with subordinate staff for their deployment in major prisons for welfare of the prisoners.
Besides, considering the Maoist threat perception, the Chief Minister asked the Home Department to take steps on the proposal to raise a Special Security Battalion with special armed police force with supervisory staff for security coverage of the jails in the Maoist-hit areas and other hypersensitive jails.