HYDERABAD
The Telangana Prisons Department reported 30.89% increase in total admissions, from 31,428 in 2023 to 41,138 in 2024. Admissions of male and female prisoners saw an uptick from 29,059 to 38,239 and 2,332 to 2,875, respectively, while admission of transgender individuals dropped from 37 in 2023 to 24 in 2024, as per the data shared by the department during their annual round up on Wednesday (January 8).
Incarceration of individuals aged below 30 years rose by over 50%, from 12,154 in 2023 to 18,855 in 2024.
A significant surge of 71.12% was recorded in new inmates under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, jumping from 3,688 in 2023 to 6,311 in 2024. According to Director General of Telangana Prisons Soumya Mishra, these can be attributed to intensified drives against drug offenders.
There was also a notable increase in drug-addicted prisoners, rising from 97 to 106 within the same period.
The department also recorded a reduction in the number of extremists from 46 in 2023 to 31 in 2024 and detenues (those under PD Act) from 109 in 2023 to 25 in 2024. A total of 303 prisoners were given parole (conditional suspension of sentence to attend domestic exigencies) while 247 were given furlough, and 213 prisoners, including 205 life convicts, were released prematurely.
Modernisation of prisons
Over 20,000 e-mulaqats were recorded by the department through the virtual platform by the Telangana Prisons Department, allowing prisoners to connect with their families through video calls. This reduces the physical visits while fostering emotional well being.
The department has installed smart kiosks for prisoners to access court dates, parole information and canteen coupons. Security has also been upgraded through installation of X-ray baggage scanners, 124 CCTV cameras, 105 walking talkies and 20 body-worn cameras.
Legal reforms
The department in collaboration with NALSAR University is drafting the Telangana Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2024, which will replace the outdated Prisons Act of 1894.
In addition, the department has constituted a committee to prepare a new Telangana Prison Manual in accordance with the Model Prisons Manual issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi.
Once the draft is complete, it will be submitted to the Telangana government for approval, the official said.
A handbook on new criminal laws was also introduced by the department in collaboration with NALSAR University of Law. Released by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on January 7, the handbook aims to educate prison staff and other stakeholders about recent legislative changes and promote their effective implementation.
To address the rising demand for infrastructure, the government has allocated three acres and 15 guntas of land in Atukuru village, Madhira mandal, Khammam district, for the establishment of a new sub-jail. This expansion reflects the government’s commitment to accommodating the increasing prison population while maintaining high standards of inmate welfare.
Interestingly, a total of 1,045 prisoners were provided free legal aid in 2024, and the number of cases heard in Jail Adalats also increased from 1,128 in 2023 to 1,923 in 2024. A total of 483 prisoners were released as compared to 376 in 2023.
According to the data shared by the department, 2,650 prisoners were trained under various skill development programmes in 2024 while 12,650 were made literate.
Through the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University and Indira Gandhi National Open University study centres in Cherlapally jail, a total of 750 inmates got graduate degrees and 225 secured PG degrees.
The focus on mental and physical health is being ensured through constant counselling and physical activities in the prison, Ms. Mishra said. The department is also evaluating the relaunch of its cognitive behavioural programme – Unnati.
Prison industries
The department has set up four new fuel outlets at Central Prison, Hyderabad, District Jail, Adilabad and sub-jails in Huzurabad and Suryapet in 2024. A total of 86 semi-open prisoners and 197 released prisoners are employed across 29 fuel outlets.
Two steel factories were also established at Chanchalguda and Sangareddy Central Prisons under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. The products made by the prisoners in these factories and others are sold in ‘My Nation’ stores.
The incentives given to the prisoners were also increased with highly skilled earning ₹200 per day. In cases of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled inmates, the incentives more than doubled to ₹150, ₹125 and ₹100 from ₹70,₹50 and ₹30 respectively.
Standardisation of jail infrastructure, sustainability and skill development for prisoners are among the priorities for the prisons department in 2025.
De-addiction centres
In the backdrop of rising numbers of drug addicts in jails, the department will set up four de-addiction centres in Hyderabad, Cherlapally, Sangareddy and Nizamabad this year.
The department announced recruitment of academicians for teaching sociology, psychology, criminology and legal studies to trainees in the State Institute of Correctional Administration.
In the area of sustainability, the department is planning to install a 530 kilowatt solar plant, which is expected to reduce electricity bills by 20%, Ms. Mishra informed.
The department is also set to initiate a waste-to-wealth programme under which paper and plastic waste, food and kitchen waste as well as temple flowers will be converted into useful products, including compost and incense sticks.
Published – January 08, 2025 07:17 pm IST
