To prevent the spread of coronavirus in jails, new prisoners should be screened first and then kept in separate sections, Home and Jail Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu said on Sunday, adding that the prison premises must be regularly cleaned and sanitized.
Social and physical distancing should also be maintained, he told a meeting of jail authorities.
Sahu called for better health check-up of the prisoners. At the same time, commercial and professional activities should be promoted to augment the income of the prisoners.
The Minister also sought the start of construction works sanctioned under different heads in fiscal 2020-21.
The meeting was told that a new barrack for 600 prisoners has been constructed at Raipur. Construction works to hold another 1,000 prisoners’ are in progress at Durg and Bilaspur jails. This will increase the jail capacity in Chhattisgarh from 12,000 to 13,600 prisoners.
During the lockdown period, the prisoners are allowed to interact with their family members.
Additional Director General (Jail) Sanjay Pillai and senior jail officers attended the meeting.