Aimed at bringing prison reforms and evolving rights-based framework of policy and practice, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Institute of Correctional Administration (ICA) here and International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS), U.K.
An MoU has been signed by Anil Kumar, UT Home Secretary-cum-Director, ICA and International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS), UK through its director Dr Peter Bennett. The ICPS is a renowned international centre on prison studies and prison reforms. The ICPS assists governments and other organizations to develop appropriate policies on prisons and the use of imprisonment.
A senior official of the UT Administration said, “The purpose of this MOU is to collaborate on evolving rights-based framework of policy and practice, based on agreed international conventions and national laws, in the area of criminal justice system with a focus on correctional administration; and to access the comparative advantage and the experience/expertise on the subject in the government and non- Governmental sector to enhance outreach among stakeholders.”
Notably, aiming to motivate prisoners at Burail Jail here, the local authorities have been organizing various programmes. Recently, induction or motivation programmes to spread awareness of various educational courses among prisoners was organized in Burail jail premises. Around 800 prisoners are lodged in the Burail jail including many dreaded criminals. Out of about 800, nearly 120 prisoners are pursuing various courses through IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University).
Burail Jail has a study centre of Indira Gandhi National Open University and the prison has tied up with the UT Education Department. Recently, in a unique convocation organized by the jail authorities, as many as 124prisoners were awarded degrees and certificates by UT Additional Inspector General of Prisons, Balbir Singh Dhol. Wearing ceremonial convocation gowns, the inmates of Burail Jail had received degrees and certificates in a first-of-its kind convocation cum certificate distribution programme organized in Burail Jail premises.
Many inmates had completed their Bachelor as well as Master degree in the past but no ceremonial function was held earlier. Burail Jail had also become the first jail in the northern region comprising Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir among others, in which the facility of Aadhar cards for prisoners was introduced. Earlier, the facility was introduced for jail inmates in Kolkata and Indore.