Lok Sabha Question No. 3930 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-20
Subject: Welfare of Women Prisoners
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: BAIJAYANT "JAY" PANDA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3930

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH  MARCH, 2018 /PHALGUNA 29, 1939 (SAKA)

WELFARE OF WOMEN PRISONERS

3930. SHRI BAIJAYANT JAY PANDA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  projects  to  provide sanitary napkins or menstrual cups to women prisoners for maintenance of health and hygiene;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has formulated any policy for rehabilitation of women  undertrials  and  convicts  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) whether any of the Government's social security schemes  are applicable to women prisoners;
- (e) if so, the details thereof;
- (f)  whether  the  Government  has  made  efforts  to  establish  a  Board  of Visitors  (BoVs)  in  all  prisons  that  detain  women  prisoners  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (g)  whether  any  training  is  provided  to  sensitize  members  of  BoVs towards  the  specific  needs  of  women  prisoners  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

ANSWER

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

## L.S.US.Q NO. 3930 FOR 20.03.2018

(a) to (g):  The Ministry of Home Affairs has provided guidance to all States and UTs on various aspects of prison management and welfare of prison inmates,  through  Model  Prison  Manual  2016,  which  was  circulated  to  all States  and  UTs  for  their  guidance  and  adoption.    There  is  a  dedicated chapter  in  the  Manual  titled  'Women  Prisoners'  which  lays  down  several steps for the healthcare and welfare of women prisoners which, interalia, provides that sterilised sanitary pads should be issued to women prisoners as per their requirement.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has advised the Ministry of Skill Development to  coordinate  with  Skill  Development  departments  of  States  and  make provision  for  suitable  opportunities  for  development  of  skills  of  prison inmates, particularly women prisoners, to facilitate their reintegration with society by providing them employment opportunities post-release.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has been providing wide-ranging guidance to States and Union Territories, including guidance on after-care and rehabilitation  of  women  prisoners,  through  advisories  in  which  guidance has  been  provided  to  the  States  that  the  process  of  after-care  and rehabilitation of offenders is an integral part of institutional care and the administrative machinery carrying out the programmes should be integrated with Department of Prisons.  There is also a dedicated chapter

## L.S.US.Q NO. 3930 FOR 20.03.2018

on 'after-care and rehabilitation' in Model Prison Manual 2016, which was shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs with all States and UTs and they were  advised  to  adopt  the  best  practices  and  guidance  provided  in  the Manual.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has advised the States to formulate suitable schemes for providing employment to released convicts.  States have been advised that on release from prisons, individual cases of released prisoners should be followed up by concerned Probation/Welfare/Rehabilitation Officers for a period ranging from one year to five years according to the requirement of each case and the status of their rehabilitation and reintegration with the society should be monitored.

The  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  has  provided  guidance  to  States  through Model  Prison  Manual  2016  for  constituting  Board  of  Visitors  comprising Official  and  non-official  members  at  District  and  Sub-divisional  level.    In terms of available information, Boards of Visitors have been established in States and UTs.  However, prison-wise details of such Boards of Visitors in States/UTs are not maintained centrally.

The  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  has  also  advised  all  States  and  UTs  to organise  special  training  courses  to  bring  attitudinal  change  in  the behaviour of prison officials in dealing with prison inmates.  They have also been  advised  to  ensure  regular  oversight  over  prisons  through  internal inspection  by  prison  authorities  and  external  inspection  by  Board  of Visitors, Legal Aid authorities etc with a view to ensuring welfare of prison inmates, particularly women inmates.

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