Punjab to set up industrial units in two new jails

Chandigarh, Sep 26 (UNI) The Punjab government will set up two modern jails at Kapurthala and Faridkot and develop small industrial units inside them with the coordination of some industrialists, to impart skill training to the prisoners.

The direction was given by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a meeting to finalise the design of these jails.

Mr Badal said model for the Kapurthala jail was being prepared by the students of Chandigarh College of Architecture under the direct supervision of DGP Research and Development (New Delhi) Kiran Bedi, while the model for Faridkot jail was being prepared by Department of Architecture Punjab.

Mr Badal said jails should be treated like 'Sudhar Ghar' where inmates could be treated like human beings by providing conducive atmosphere to help them to become good citizens. A lively atmosphere must be created in these modern jails with the facilities like open air theater, play grounds, better health facilities and place for worship and meditation, added Mr Badal.

Appreciating both the models, Mr Badal suggested for increasing the area under workshop where state government could arrange to set up small industrial units after discussing with some industrialists.

Mr Badal said this innovative approach would not only help government to make prisons self-sustainable but also act as a self income generation source for the prisoners that they could get after they were released.

Revealing one more new approach adopted by the state government for inmates, Mr Badal informed that small two room family apartments would also be constructed in the premises of these jails where prisoners having good conduct would be allowed to stay with their families for seven days.

Taking part in the discussion, Ms Kiran Bedi cherished the ideal approach adopted by the Punjab government for constructing these new jails to avoid overcrowding and providing hygienic conditions for the prisoners by developing ultra modern solar kitchens, tele conferencing, different cells with proper light and air-crossing along with better washroom facilities etc. She said the hospitals in the jails should also be equipped with latest OT facilities separately for male and female prisoners.

Mr Badal directed the jail authorities to accelerate the designing work so that estimations could be made at earliest for the construction.

UNI