Jaipur:
Concerned over the instances where prisoners are found illegally possessing mobile phones, the state government is planning to provide telephone facility to the jail inmates.
To start with, the authorities are working on the modalities for a setting up of telephone booths in Jaipur Central Jail. The prisoners, however, would be allowed access to only two to three phone numbers and allowed to make calls only for a fixed duration, officials involved with the proposal said.
The authorities are developing the project on the lines with the one already initiated in jails of a few other states including West Bengal and Tihar in Delhi.
"We are looking at the viability of project and also the software that has been developed by a few firms for the jails in West Bengal and Tihar. The modalities are still being worked out in discussions with some private firms," said DG (prisons) Omendra Bhardwaj.
According to officials, the purpose of providing this facility was to enable prisoners keep in touch with their families and also stop the practice of smuggling mobile phones into jails. Sources in the home department meanwhile disclosed that the government was considering the feasibility of introducing the facility on pilot basis in Jaipur Central Jail, which once found viable would be followed in Jodhpur and a few other jails.
Officials mentioned that the conversations of inmates will be closely monitored by the jail staff and inmates will be allowed to spend only limited sum of money on making calls on a monthly basis.
Sources meanwhile said that apart from providing phone facilities to the prisoners a number of other measures were being taken to improve the living conditions of prisoners in the state.
The authorities are planning to introduce new vocational courses to prisoners in the state. A high level jail reforms committee has also given its recommendations for improving conditions of jails and its inmates, which are under consideration of the government.
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