By Amrit Pal Singh Sidhu
Chandigarh, February 24
The Punjab Legislative Assembly's committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes recently carried out a detailed inspection of Ludhiana's Central Jail, Borstal Jail, and Women's Jail. The committee led by Chairperson MLA Jagraon Sarvjit Kaur Manuke, included members MLAs Dr. Jasbir Singh Sandhu, Engineer Amit Ratan, Master Jagseer Singh, Dr. Nachhatar Pal, Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, and Dalbir Singh Tong.
The inspection focused on addressing the concerns of prisoners and undertrial detainees. Many inmates raised issues about delays in receiving remission or parole. Chairperson Manuke assured the prisoners that she would escalate the matter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for prompt resolution.
The committee conducted a thorough review of the infrastructure and facilities within the jails. They inspected the barracks, kitchen, food arrangements, toilets, and overall cleanliness. They sampled the food provided to inmates and emphasized the importance of maintaining cleanliness standards. Additionally, they visited the jail hospital to assess services such as the OPD clinic, HIV and TB treatments, and counselling services. The committee highlighted the need for sufficient and well-maintained washrooms for prisoners.
Vocational training units also came under scrutiny during the visit. The committee evaluated programs in bakery, welding, powerloom operations, weaving, woodworking, and tailoring. The members reviewed the CCTV control room and recreational facilities for inmates. They were briefed on ongoing ITI courses designed to provide skill development opportunities for prisoners. Furthermore, the committee interacted with children residing in the jail premises and encouraged them to focus on their education.
The inspection was attended by senior officials, including ADGP Jails Arun Pal Singh, DIG Jails SS Mand, SDM Payal Goyal, Central Jail Superintendent Kulwant Singh, and other officers. The visit underscored the committee's commitment to improving living conditions and ensuring the welfare of inmates.