State to have open jail for inmate

Agartala, Aug 3: Implementing the directive of the Supreme Court, the state government has decided to have open jails for inmates in the state.

Speaking to newsmen, Commissioner of Prisons B K Roy said the SC directive will be applicable for all the jails in the state.

''The jails will have open space for all the inmates. The mother and the child can be together upto 6 years from birth of the child.

Those who have no relatives will be kept in government home. We will see to it that the child doesn't feel that his/her mother is in captivity,'' said Mr Roy.

He also said that the jails will have various facilities including libraries, children's parks, sports facilities and schools.

Mr Roy said the government was taking all steps to increase the dialy wage of the jail inmates. At present the jail inmates get Rs 7 for hard labour and Rs 6 for normal labour.

He also informed that three more sub-jails will be set up in Kanchanpur in North district, Chailengta in Dhalai district and Damburnagar in South district of Tripura.

The total cost of the jails will be 3 crores and will have a capacity for 100 inmates each, informed the Commissioner.

Mr Roy further informed that a Central Jail will come up soon in Bishalgarh in West district of Tripura.

''At least 27 acres of land has been procured for the purpose and the construction has also started. The estimated cost has been pegged at Rs 15 crores. The jail will have an intake capacity of 1400-1500 inmates. One per cent of the total capacity will be reserved for women,'' added Mr Roy.

UNI