The Central Jail in this district headquarters which is hit by Maoist insurgency since late 1980s, will soon have ‘double storey’ barracks to tide over the problem of overcapacity with the number of prisoners currently crossing over three times the normal capacity.
The three ‘double storey’ barracks being constructed in the old jail premises would have space for more than 60 male prisoners which is likely to free up space in existing overcrowded barracks. This would be apart from a new building being constructed within the Jagdalpur Central Jail premises to have additional capacity for accommodating more prisoners, according to an official statement issued here on Wednesday.
Currently, the Central Jail has more than 1,500 male and female prisoners which is already three times the normal capacity. The overfilled barracks had been causing discomfort to the prisoners.
A 10-bed hospital had been constructed within the Central jail premises, besides separate barracks for the aged prisoners. The barrack for old prisoners has a temple, besides a garden and also has pets such as pigeons and rabbits, so that prisoners can escape boredom.
The new building under construction in the north-east part of Central Jail premises is almost ready and comprises an administrative building, besides special barracks for the prisoners and a watch tower.
The Central Jail premises also has a school and a play ground. The barracks in the new jail would have CCTV cameras and body scanners. The premises would also have a ‘cow shed’ for the villagers and animal lovers among the prisoners.
As soon as the new building in the Central Jail premises gets ready, 60 prisoners would be shifted into them, Jagdalpur Central Jail Superintendent Rajender Gaikwad said.
There are more than two dozen cottage units operational within the Central Jail premises with 350 prisoners both skilled and unskilled displaying their creativity by producing goods
worth `78 lakh.
The inmates had been weaving premium quality bed sheets, carpets and mats with a large number of women shopping for them in the jail premises despite a high price tag on the produce.
The training offered to the prisoners on weaving carpets, bed sheets and mats during their terms is helping them get self-employed after their release from the jail.
The maximum demand in the market had been for the iron and bell metal art which is produced by the prisoners after acquiring training. The move had generated creation of metal art worth `1 crore every year.
There is high demand for mats, bed sheets, table mats and the metal art produced by prisoners in the global market. The prisoners also manufacture beds, diwan, sofa set and dining table besides preparing condiments known for their purity which are packed and sold in the market.
A whole lot of other items such as swings, shoes, footmats, pen holder, stationary, mats and statues made of mud are prepared by the prisoners.
"The State Government earned a revenue of `27 lakh from the items prepared in the jail premises,"
Gaikwad said.
This apart, the Government has started preparing the prisoners which includes undertrials in training them to earn a living once they had served
their terms.
Under a scheme floated by the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development, different types of courses are being conducted by the ‘National Open School’ for the prisoners.
The prisoners under the open school system would take up courses in repair of air conditioners, TV, fridge and computers. They would also be offered a diploma course in Web Designing, Computer Application and repair of electrical appliances.
The prisoners who have passed 8th, 10th and 12th standard would be offered courses as per their educational qualifications. The entire set of study material for the prisoners would be made available by the Open School and they would be attending both theory and practical classes in the jail
premises.
This apart, the study curriculum in the jail premises would also cover courses on cake, bread, bakery and confectionery. “The prisoners would receive a certificate after completing the one year courses which would open avenues for their employment once they are released from prison,” Gaikwad said.
On rehabilitation front, the trained prisoners who are released after serving their terms would have a lesser possibility of not finding an employment as they could be suitable self-employed, the statement added.
om theIJPrnp/ `IJ itself. Sharma reviewed departmental activities at a meeting of the Public Relations Department’s officers at Mantralaya on Wednesday. Secretary and Commissioner Public Relations Rakesh Shrivastava, senior officers of the Directorate of Pubic Relations and Divisional Public Relations Officers attended the meeting. The PR Minister said that Public Relations Officers will be able to discharge their duties more effectively through constant dialogue with journalists. He directed to prepare a state-level media directory of journalists upto tahsil-level. The PR Minister directed to broadcast government’s schemes and achievements in local dialects through community radio stations. He directed to pay special attention to professionalism in production of films. Secretary and Commissioner Public Relations said that letters of appreciation will be given to the Public Relations Officers who have published good news and success stories. He directed officers to make optimum use of SMS and e-mail for updating districts’ portals and quick exchange of news. Additional Secretary lajpat Ahuta, Additional Directors Suresh Awatramani, Suresh Tiwari, Rajju Rai, Anil Mathur, OSD Prakash Gaur and other officers were present at the meeting.
Govt to give coaching to tribal students
Bhopal: The State Government will impart coaching to tribal students at its expenses through prestigious coaching institutes in New Delhi so that they can attempt exams of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) with full preparations. Applications for the same can be submitted till March 15. Scheme’s benefit will be extended to only those tribal students whose annual family income is upto ` 5 lakh. For free coaching, those tribal students will be eligible who have passed prelims of the State Civil Service exam and whose age is below 32 years as on January 2013. The department will provide free coaching, lodging and stipends to the selected candidates. Information about the scheme can also be obtained from district offices of the Tribal Welfare Department.
SC students get `5.75 crore scholarships
Bhopal: The Scheduled Castes Welfare Department has distributed scholarships worth `5.75 crore to over 30 thousand children of families engaged in unclean occupations in the state. These scholarships were provided to resident and non-residential students upto class X. Scholarships worth over `6 crore were distributed by the department to 31,385 students last year.