On the directions of the Centre, Uttar Pradesh has made several changes in the British time jail manual. The Yogi Adityanath cabinet approved the changes on Tuesday. Now, the prisoners will be able to avail of several facilities at a cost.
Prisoners get their beard done at their own expense but now this system will be made available for all the jail authorities and use-and-throw razors will be available for shaving.
Notorious criminals will now be kept in Lucknow, Lalitpur, Noida and Azamgarh jails. Apart from this, new weapons will be arranged in place of the old ones. Instead of rifles, many modern equipment, including pistol, INSAS rifles, will be available.
The uniform prison manual will be applicable to all the states. The system of lock-up will end now and ‘kala pani’ is also being abolished.
There will be four categories based on the number of prisoners in the jail. Children born in jail will be named and taught in jail. With this, women will now be allowed to wear mangalsutra. Along with this, they can also wear salwar-suits.
The barracks will be divided into categories. Category A prisons will be spacious to have 2,000 inmates. Category B will have 2,000 to 1,500 prisoners, Category C 1,500 to 1,000 and in Category D less than 1,000.
The cabinet has also given approval for regular vaccination, naming and other arrangements for children born in prison. Bakery will also be arranged for self-reliance of the prisoners.
High-security prisons will be set up for notorious prisoners. Nutritious food will be given to pregnant women while there will be an arrangement of teachers for the education of children in jail. Tea-biscuits will also be available in the evening and special arrangements will be made at the time of festivals.
Dates will be given to Muslims on festivals and jaggery will be given to Hindus. Kheer and vermicelli will also be distributed.
For cooking, refined oil instead of mustard oil will be available. Tooth paste and tooth powder will be given to prisoners.
A separate prison will be built for European prisoners. The system of liberation and transfer of prisoners of Nepal, Bhutan, Kashmir and Sikkim was also abolished. A 4-member committee will be constituted under the chairmanship of the DM to organise prison reform programmes.