Entire record in Punjab prisons to be computerised-Jail Minister

Chandigarh August 10: Entire record of prisoner maintains in Punjab jails would be computerised on the patterns of Tihar Jail.

Disclosing this here today after visiting the Tihar Jail, Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Jail Minister Punjab said that the modalities would be worked out in this regard and required infrastructure would be provided .The computerised records would contain finger print of all prisoners, date of release, remissions, parole, good conduct and other particulars.

The minister also said that smart cards would be introduced in the canteens of prisons to assist the prisoners in various monetary transactions with the jail canteens, thus replacing the old coupon system.

In order to monitor and control the drug menace in jails, a state level and district level Committees have been constituted at the level of Principal Secretary Home and District Magistrates. Principal Secretary Home would be the Chairman of the State Level Committee with Secretary/ Special Secretary Home, Director General Police and Director General Police (Jails) as the members. Whereas the District Magistrate would head the District Level Committee with District Superintendent of Police, Superintendent of Police Jails, Civil Surgeon of the district concerned and the doctor concerned of the jail as members.

Phillaur also said that sniffer dogs would be provided in Punjab Jails to detect narcotics and other objectionable material in jails. X-ray machines were being installed for detection of Narcotics and other objectionable material as a pilot project at Central Jail Amritsar, Jalandhar and Kapurthala. The Superintendents of jails have been directed to conduct surprise checks in jails.  

The minister visited the Bakery, Furniture, Paper and Stationery, Shoe Making,  Phenyl and floor Cleaner Chemical unit, Manufacturing of clothes (Power loom) and Tailoring unit, Handloom, Masala Factory and Mustard edible Oil unit set up within the premises of Tihar Jail and maintained by the prisoners and jail authorities. The product of the entire unit sold through Tihar Haat (Prisons department outlet shops) at various places at Delhi, and the internal demands for the inmates is also met from the factory units.