Lok Sabha Question No. 411 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-20
Subject: Medical Facilities in Prisons
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: P.P. Chaudhary, Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, Midhun Reddy, Chandra Sekhar Bellana, Aparajita Sarangi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 411

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH  JULY, 2021/ ASHADHA 29,1943 (SAKA)

## MEDICAL FACILITIES IN PRISONS

## 411.  SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY: SHRIMATI APARAJITA SARANGI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of pregnant women currently in prisons, State-wise;
- (b) the  details  of  the  number  of  childbirths  that  have  happened  inside prisons in the country during the last three years, year-wise;
- (c) whether  there  have  been  medical  terminations  of  pregnancies  inside prisons, if so, the details thereof for every year during the above said period;
- (d) whether there have been instances of miscarriages and stillbirth inside prison,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  for  every  year  during  the  above  said period;
- (e) whether the women prisoners and their children  have  access  to  prenatal and ante-natal care, if so, the details thereof;
- (f) whether  access  to  Gynaecologists  and  Obstetricians  is  available  in prison  to  women  prisoners  and  their  children  for  pre-natal  and  antenatal care, if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) whether  the  Government  has  received  complaints  regarding  lack  of access  to  medical  care  and  medical  negligence,  if  so,  the  steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI AJAY KUMAR MISHRA)

## LS.US.Q.NO.411 FOR 20.07.2021

(a) to (g): National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles prison statistics reported to it by States and Union Territories (UTs) and publishes the same in its annual publication 'Prison Statistics India'. The latest published report is of the year 2019. Specific data in this regard is not maintained centrally.

'Prisons' and 'persons detained therein' are State subjects as per Entry 4 of List II of Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. Administration and management  of  prisoners  is  the  responsibility  of  State  Governments,  who are  competent  to  take  appropriate  steps  for  providing  medical  care  to inmates, including women inmates. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been  supplementing  the  efforts  of  State  Governments  by  issuing  various advisories  and  guidelines  from  time  to  time.  MHA  had  issued  a  detailed advisory to States and UTs  sharing the  guidelines for providing facilities to women  prisoners  and    their  children,  which,  inter-alia,  provide  that  a  jail must  have  adequate  facilities    for  prenatal  and  post-natal  care  for  female prisoners  as  well  as  their  children.  A  comprehensive  Model  Prison  Manual 2016 was also prepared by MHA  and  forwarded  to  all States and UTs in 2016. The Manual has a dedicated  chapter  on 'Women  Prisoners', which provides  guidance  on    Pregnancy,    Child    birth    in  Prisons,    Children  of Women  prisoners,  Healthcare,  Diet and  Food, and  Personal  Hygiene,  etc.

## LS.US.Q.NO.411 FOR 20.07.2021

MHA had also forwarded a report titled 'Women in Prisons' received from the Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development,  to  all  States  and  UTs  for implementation of the suggestions contained in the report relating to women inmates.

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