PCO in Shillong Jail generates revenue, helps UTPs

SHILLONG: The novel idea of setting up of a PCO for the use of inmates of the Shillong district jail has generated over Rs.18,000 over a period of six months.
The reply provided by the jail authorities in response to a written query by this reporter stated that Rs.18,660 was collected after the PCO was set up by the jail authorities on March 1 this year. As per information provided, the relatives of the jail inmates and the visitors pay Rs.10 each per prisoner to make calls through the PCO. Prisoners are charged Rs.1.20 paise per minute for making the calls.
According to jail authorities, the duration of the call can extend to 5 minutes or even 10 minutes on emergency matters and as many as 2726 calls have been made since March.
The purpose of setting up of PCO was to help the prisoners talk to their family members, relatives and especially their legal counsels about their cases and the releases.
The jail authorities said that the “most important benefit is for the under trial prisoners to know the position of their trial/cases and their release”.
Earlier it was reported that the jail authorities were compelled to set up a PCO after the use of cell phones inside the jail was detected.
In the past, several instances of misuse of mobile phones inside jail by the inmates had resulted in jail breaks. However, the setting up of PCO has proved to be a deterrent.
The jail manual prevents the use of mobile phones and the possession of cash inside the jail.
Additional DGP (Prisons) B.L. Buam told reporters in April this year that since relatives do not turn up to visit the inmates, the jail authorities had thought that the system of PCO would allow the inmates to call their family or relatives and inquire about their well being.