NEW DELHI: In the past two months, over 300 mobile phones, chargers and weapons of various types have been seized in jails. Sanjay Baniwal, director general (prisons), told media persons on Thursday that it was one of the top priorities for prison staff to ensure that no mobile phone was used inside a prison.“If we find phones being used, it will not just be the prisoners but also the officials involved who will be taken to task,” declared Baniwal. “Our plan is to install jammers of high quality so as to completely stop mobile phone usage inside all the prisons.”On Wednesday, a raid was conducted in jail No. 3 which unearthed 18 mobile phones. The officials seized the phones and their chargers. In the last two months and a half, police seized a total of 348 mobile phones. Addressing the media on Thursday, Baniwal revealed that jail officials had been developing intelligence and conducting frequent raids inside the prison premises.“This is being done to ensure that a strong message goes to the criminals,” the DG said. “We are working on a 23-points agenda this year, which include making the jails completely phone free and setting up a problem redressal system for the inmates. We will install advanced jammers to ensure that no one is able to use a phone inside the jails.”Baniwal accepted that the jail staff were often discovered to be conniving with the inmates in procurement and use of mobile phones on the jail premises. Strict action is being taken against such errant staff, the officer said.The DG emphasised that prison reformations were under way and there were schemes to take care of inmates stuck in the prison because of financial problems. “We are also signing a memorandum of understanding with Art of Living to strengthen the mental well-being of the inmates. The President of India and the lieutenant governor of Delhi have given instructions to make arrangements inside the jails to impart skill development training to the inmates so that they are able to find employment once they leave the jail,” said Baniwal.Under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), 1,020 jail inmates are getting trained in tourism and hospitality with course scheduled to end in three months. Baniwal added, “We will also give training in stitching of high-end clothes to around 1,000 inmates under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana so that when these prisoners are released, they can become entrepreneurs and start their own business of tailoring after availing loans from the Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Ltd (Mudra).”
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/in-crackdown-over-300-mobile-phones-and-weapons-seized-in-delhi-prisons-in-past-2-months-says-sanjay-baniwal/articleshow/97560901.cms