SHILLONG, Oct 22: State government officials would visit prisons across the country to get a first-hand idea for developing a modern central prison to house under-trial prisoners (UTPs) and convicts.
A modern prison is expected to help decongest the old and overcrowded Shillong District Jail.
Inspector General (Prisons), Mariahom Kharkrang told The Shillong Times that a 25-acre plot of land has been identified in the New Shillong Township for constructing the modern central prison.
“Officials of the prisons department along with architects of the PWD will be visiting some of the best central prisons across the county to get ideas,” he said.
Kharkrang said the proposed central prison will be more ‘correctional’ than penal and the department will start the construction process once the necessary details are worked out.
When the Prisons department started functioning, there were only two district jails in the state — one each in Shillong and Tura.
The Shillong District Jail on 5.5 acres was established in 1897 with an authorised capacity of 150 prisoners (135 males and 15 females). It caters to UTPs from the East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills and South West Khasi Hills districts.
As on August 31, the Shillong jail had 418 prisoners, 14 of them females. This was almost thrice its capacity.
The jail has 75 employees against a sanctioned strength of 87.
For their reformation and for maintaining a link with the outside world, the prisoners are permitted to meet their family members, relatives, and friends and lawyers on any working day.
A video conferencing facility has been proposed in each jail to be in touch with relatives and lawyers virtually.
Officials said free legal aid is being provided to the UTPs. Jail adalats and camp court trials are also being held in the jails periodically by the magistrates concerned for quick disposal of the compoundable offences and petty cases.
Medical care facilities are being made available to the prisoners in the hospital within the jail supervised by a senior medical and health officer and assisted by a pharmacist and attendants.
The jail also provides guidance to educated prisoners who want to pursue higher studies through the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the National Institute of Open Schooling.
The IGNOU set up a study centre in the jail in 2003. Two prisoners registered for BA and a postgraduate diploma course in mass media and journalism in July that year. A convict appeared for the PG diploma examination in mass media and journalism in December 2005 from the jail premises.
Officials said some of the prisoners of Shillong jail may be shifted to the Nongstoin jail after it is completed.