Kujang sub-jail inmates demonstrate mass dharna implement jail manual of 2007 towards jail reform

The inmates of Kujang sub-jail demonstrated mass dharna on the occasion of International Labourer Day on Tuesday to bring jail reform in all jails of the state and also urged to implement jail manual of 2007 for the betterment of inmates.

Total 69 prisoners of Kujang sub jail led by anti Posco leader cum CPI leader Mr. Narayan Reddy who had been imprisoned in said jail on Posco coastal road valance issue demonstrated mass dharna in jail premises for demanding to implement jail manual 2007 by replacing jail manual 1942.

Earlier, Mr. Reddy and his colleague cum congress leader Mr. Jayant Biswal appealed the inmates of all jails of the state to intensify dharna to fulfill their demands and to implement jail manual 2007 though print and electronic media. On yesterday, all the inmates including seven women prisoners demonstrated mass dharana without taking food to fufill their demands.

Mr. Raddy has informed that the Odisha Prison Manual, 1942 is so outdated that when this manual was prepared there were no central/circle jails. It lists Cuttack, Sambalpur, Puri, Berhampur, Balasore and Koraput as district Jails. At present, Choudwar – is a circle jail, like Sambalpur and Berhampur. Puri, Balasore and Koraput continue to function as district jails. The manual has only classified jails in the state as district jails – first, second and third class, subsidiary jails, and subsidiary special jails.

State government introduced Odisha Prison Manual in 2007 having very progressive provisions .If new manual can be implemented, can avoid the unnecessary detention of undertrial prisoners. 2007 manuals have become non-operational over the years, due to which there are several reports of under trial prisoners spending a lifetime in prison.- Mr. Reddy added.

Overcrowding is the main problem in all over the jails. Besides, absence of medical officers, pharmacists, technicians’, probationary officers and water scarcity are other problems in jails. It is strong violation human rights act so Mr. Reddy and Biswal have urged to bring reform in jails by implementing Odisha prison manual 2007.

In Kujang sub jail, there are many irregularities like shortage of drinking water facilities, no tiffin for inmates in morning and evening, power-cut for five to six hours causing sever heat to inmates, bad sanitation and other issues have worsened the situation.

All the inmates of Kujang sub jail do not take one class of water & meal and sat on dharna with empty stomach to fulfill their demands on yesterday. They also submitted a demand to the chief minister of Odisha and Inspector of General to fulfill their demands.

Superintendent of jail, Kujang Mr. Chittaranjan Biswal said ‘all 69 inmates demonstrated their dharna on yesterday for demanding to implement 2007 Prison Manual so I have sent their memorandum to the higher authorities’.- he added.

The appeal of CPI leader Mr. Reddy to intensify their dharna in all jails of the state on the occasion of Laborer’s day though media did not put any impact because inmates of other jails did not demonstrate dharna on yesterday. Contacted, superintendent of Allipingal M.A.Beig has also informed that no inmate sat on dharna on yesterday.