Lok Sabha Question No. 320 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Prison Reforms
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: HEMAMALINI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.320

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2018

## PRISON REFORMS

## 320. SHRIMATI HEMA MALINI:

Will the Minister of  WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there  have  been  many  disquieting  reports  about  the  way  in  which  women  are treated in prisons across the country over the last several years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is supporting/assisting the National Commission for Women in conducting prison reforms to ameliorate the condition of women in prisons; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

- (a) & (d):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION NO.320  FOR  16.03.2018  ASKED  BY  SHRIMATI  HEMA  MALINI  REGARDING PRISON REFORMS

- (a) & (b):  The  National  Commission  for  Women  (NCW)  as  well  as  the  Bureau  of  Police Research  and  Development  (BPR&D) periodically  conduct  visits  to  prisons  across  the country and report on conditions of prisoners.  As part of these efforts, there have been reports  of  inadequate  facilities  for  women  in  prisons.  These  reports  are  available  with NCW and BPR&D.
- (c) &  (d):    The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  in  collaboration  with  NCW conducts  visits  across  the  country  to  assess  the  condition  of  women  in  prison.    The National  Commission  for  Women  (NCW)  has,  with  a  view  to  improve  the  facilities available  in  Custodial  Homes/Prisons,  housing  women  inmates,  devised  a  detailed Proforma for inspecting prisons.  The Proforma includes details of all facilities including the physical infrastructure, human resources, medical facilities, provision for safety/security  of  inmates,  availability  of  power,  availability  of  open  space,  sleeping arrangements, conditions of sanitation and hygiene, availability of kitchen garden/kitchen facilities,  toilets,  provision  for  imparting  skill  development  training,  yoga,  meditation, availability  of  library  and  recreation  rooms  as  also  indoor  sports  facilities.    It  also provides for collecting information in respect of the cases for which women have been kept  in  the  custodial  homes,  their  status  as  under-trials  or  convicts  and  the  nature  of offence, their educational profile, medical conditions, if any, and engagement with civil society organisations/NGOs, etc.  The Commission inspects the various prisons in which representatives of the State Legal Services Authority/District Legal Services Authority, NGOs, State Commission for Women also participate.  The findings of the inspection are shared with concerned authorities and are utilised for improving the condition of Jails as also facilities available in Jails.  The Government has been providing the required budget to the National Commission for Women for undertaking all activities of the Commission.

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