The Punjab Jails department has started a scholarship scheme for the children of undertrials and inmates, wherein their children who score above 70% marks in class tenth and above would be given a scholarship of Rs 1,000 per month. This was informed by ADGP (Prisons) Rajpal Meena after inaugurating a Staff/Public Welfare Canteen in the premises of Central Jail, here today.Mr Meena said that when he joined the department on August 7, 2012, the department used to earn around Rs 30 lakh per month from sales at such canteens, which have now increased to around Rs 3 crore per month. He said that more such canteens would be opened in other jails of the state.
While speaking to media persons, Mr Rajpal Meena stated that the main aim of opening these canteens was that the family members of inmates and undertrials, who come to meet them, can gift eatables to them. He said that earlier, people used to hide things such as drugs and others in eatables, but with the opening of this canteen, this problem would be checked as they would now buy eatables from here which would be sealed in proper packets. He said that if any packet is tampered with, it would not be allowed to enter the jail premises.Meena informed that the bakery items sold in these canteens are made in-house by the inmates themselves, and for some other products, they have tied up with a leading multinational retail chain. He informed that for the welfare of children of female inmates and undertrials, who stay with their mothers in jails, the department has now decided to celebrate their birthdays. He said that the department would spend an amount of Rs 1,500 to the child, which would include a dress, sweets, cake and the birthday party would be duly photographed so that the child does not feel he or she is in jail.He informed that three new jails- at Bathinda, Muktsar and Amritsar are ready and the process of shifting of undertrials and inmates has already started. He said that these new jails would have separate areas for inmates, undertrials and hardcore criminals.
Besides this, the jails would also have a stadium, meditation centre, Gurudwara and a modern factory.Those inmates/undertrials who want to pursue their studies, we would also have hostel type barracks, a library, classroom, computer lab so that they can live separately from others and can concentrate on their studies,” Mr Rajpal Meena informed. He said that the main aim of the jails department now is to make whole system fully computerized with minimum human interference. The ADGP said that very soon, the jails would present a neat and clean look and they would be managed in a professional manner so that the gap between the department and undertrials/inmates is reduced. Central Jail Ludhiana Superintendent Mr SP Khanna was also present on the occasion.