Lok Sabha Question No. 3404 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-06
Subject: National Conference of Head of Prisons
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3404

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH   DECEMBER, 2016/ AGRAHAYANA 15, 1938 (SAKA)

NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF HEAD OF PRISONS

3404. SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  National  Conference  of  Heads  of  Prisons  of  States  and UTs on prison Reform was held recently, and if so, the issues discussed and resolution passed therein;

(b) whether the National Commission for Women (NCW) is ready to share best practices with the Bureau of Police Research and Development for bringing prison reforms, particularly in the context of women inmates and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Union Government has requested the State Governments to adopt PM's Skill Development programme  to accelerate Prison Reforms;

(d) if so, the response of the State Governments thereon;

(e)  whether  there  is  slow  progress  in  reducing  the  overcrowding  of prisons; and

(f) if so, the steps taken by the Union Government to speed up the prison reforms?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a):    The  Bureau  of  Police  Research  &  Development  (BPR&D)  organized the 5 th  National  Conference  of  Head  of  Prisons  of States/UTs on Prison

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## L.S.US.Q.NO.3404 FOR 06.12.2016

Reforms  at  New  Delhi  on  29-30  September  2016.    The  following  four themes were selected for the conference:

- a. Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Prisoners.
- b. Technology for Prisons.
- c. Best Practices in Prisons with Special Reference to Agriculture and Industry.
- d. Security in Prisons.

After  detailed  deliberations,  11  resolutions  were  adopted.  A  statement containing the details of the Resolutions adopted is at Annex.

- (b):    National  Commission  for  Women  has  informed  that  as  per  its mandate  in  terms  of  Section  10(k)  of  the  NCW  Act,  1990,  the  NCW inspects/undertakes visit to jails, remand homes, women's institutions or other custodial institutes where women are kept as prisoners. Thereafter, NCW  shares  its  reports  with  recommendations  with  the  concerned  jail authorities  including  State  Governments  for  remedial  action,  if  found necessary.

(c) to (d): Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  has  issued  advisories  to  States Governments to accelerate skill development of prisoners.

(e) to (f): Prisons is a State subject under Entry 4 of List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. However, the Government of India

## L.S.US.Q.NO.3404 FOR 06.12.2016

has taken various administrative and legislative measures for reducing the number of undertrials in the prisons with a view to addressing the issue of overcrowding. Some of the measures taken are: (a) Establishment of Fast Track Courts (FTCs), (b) Creation of additional capacity of prisons through the Scheme of Modernisation of Prisons, (c) Launch of National Mission for Justice  Delivery  and  Legal  Reforms,  (d)  Insertion  of  a  new  section  viz. 436A in the Criminal Procedure Code etc.

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Annexure referred to in part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3404 for answer on 06.12.2016

Resolutions adopted by 5th National Conference of Heads  of Prisons of States/UTs on Prison Reforms :-

1. The nomenclature of Prisons Department in the States should be changed to 'Department of Correctional Services', which should have integrated prison, correctional and probation services.
2. All  States  should  have  Probation  service/Officer  in  Prisons.  Every  state should  establish  a  Welfare  Wing  under  Prison  Department  Comprising  Welfare Officers, Law Officers, Counselors and Probation Officers.
3. A National Prison Mission on the lines of National Police Mission or a Micro Mission on Prisons should be set up.
4. In order to ensure basic uniformity in prison rules, regulations, standards, procedures  and  their  implementation  in  different  states  and  Union  Territories, the States should revise implementation in different States and Union Territories,  the  States  should  revise  their  existing  Prison  Manuals  by  adopting the provisions of Model Prison Manual, 2016 prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
5. Government of India may  consider establishing additional Regional Institutes  of  Correctional  Administration  for  each  region  of  India  and  one National Correctional Administration for each region of India and one National Conference Administration Academy.
6. Government of India may formulate a 'Modernization of Prisons SchemePhase  II'  as  a  follow  up  to  the  'Modernization  of  Prisons  Scheme'  was  very successful in improving the Prison infrastructure in the country.
7. National Conference of Head of Prisons/Correctional Administrators should be held annually like DGsP and IGsP Conference.
8. All  Prisons  should  be  linked  with  Courts  through  video  conferencing  for expeditious trial and to save the costs in escorting the under trial prisoners to Courts.
9. Prison e-system should be integrated with CCTNS as well as e-courts on priority basis.
10. The existing vacancies in all ranks of Prison Departments should be filled up expeditiously.
11. Combined training of Prison, Police, Health Department and Judiciary on Undertrial  Management  and  separate  training  course  on  De-radicalization  of prisoners should be conducted.

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