As per latest reports , Arunachal Pradesh is set to come up with its first jail. The Arunachal Pradesh government has decided to name it as a Correctional Centre.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, in presence of Home Minister Bamang Felix on Thursday laid the foundation stone of the state’s first ‘Central Jail-turned-Correctional Centre’ at Lower Sher near Kimin in Papum Pare district.
While speaking on the occasion after the foundation ceremony ,the CM was quoted as saying, “There is a pressing need to humanize prisons and prisoners, and for a societal and administrative change in attitude towards prisoners, both convicts and under trials. With this approach in mind, Arunachal Pradesh’s first Central Jail will be renamed as a Correctional Centre, where we will ensure every effort is made to reform prisoners and provide them with the skills and opportunities required for their meaningful rehabilitation as productive and participative members of society,”
As a step of the state government’s commitment in transforming the prison system by humanizing prisons & transforming them as reformative homes, CM Pema Khandu also assured that the ‘Central Jail’ written on the foundation stone will be changed to ‘Correctional Centre’. With this it is aimed to allow prisoners become integral members of society after being released .
The Arunachal CM further said that the state Arunachal Pradesh records one of India’s lowest rates of crimes against women and children.
“Chargesheets in Arunachal have been filed in 87.09% arrests in 2021. Both these are a testament to our Government’s policies and approach towards speedy and scientific investigations and filing of chargesheets in time to ensure that no guilty is let free and that no innocent suffers needlessly,”
The CM informed and also assured that the government’s focus is on upholding the finest tenets of the criminal justice system, keeping in mind the rights of both victims and the accused, and the maintenance of law and order.
While highlighting on the life of inmates, The CM stated that the prisoners have been treated as a burden on society, he added, “We will now move further away from this de-humanizing notion. While ensuring the dignity of every prisoner, the Government is making efforts to educate prisoners, involve them in skill development activities and link them to employment enhancement opportunities. This will ensure higher earnings for prisoners, as well as work to lead them towards gainful employment and away from crime after their release.”
The CM further informed that, in order to facilitate continuation of education of inmates, the state government has collaborated with Rajiv Gandhi University to provide the same through distance education.
Taking to Twitter, the Arunachal CM wrote, “With a view to humanizing prisons & transforming them as reformative homes, laid foundation stone of Arunachal’s first Central Jail-turned-Correctional Centre at Lower Sher in Papum Pare district. We will ensure that prisoners are skilled for their meaningful rehabilitation.”
The CM also appreciated the locals for their noble act of donating about 98 hac of land for the project. He further assured that all public requests including mini secretariate, health units, roads, flood protection works, etc will be fulfilled in a phased manner.
As per reports despite its capacity to house 1000 inmates, the new Correctional Centre will start with the inclusion of 500 male and 100 female inmates, Pema Khandu wished that it remains vacant most of the time.
“Yes, we have laid the foundation for a correctional centre for 1000 inmates, the largest in the state, but I pray that it remains empty,” he said.
With a view to humanizing prisons & transforming them as reformative homes, laid foundation stone of Arunachal's first Central Jail-turned-Correctional Centre at Lower Sher in Papum Pare district.
We will ensure that prisoners are skilled for their meaningful rehabilitation. pic.twitter.com/cLTJPpS4wY
— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (Modi Ka Parivar) (@PemaKhanduBJP) December 22, 2022
