Annual Report - National Human Rights Commission

Civil Liberties
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rationalized in accordance with the recommendations of the NHRC. There is a good scope for
involvement of NGOs in education recreation and welfare of prisoners.
Prisons in Andhra Pradesh
3.46 Overcrowding is being experienced in most jails. The modernization grant received from
the Government of India is being utilized efficiently to create additional accommodation. As
many as 22 districts do not have regular District Jails.
3.47 The State Government has taken a commendable initiative in introducing the video linkage
between the jails and the courts in as many as 14 Prisons. This has brought about significant
improvement in the situation of Under-trial prisoners in recent years.
3.48 Prisoners’ education has been made an essential ingredient of the institutional treatment in
the Central Prisons and the District Prisons. An efficient functioning of the institution of Welfare
Officers is helping in liberal operation of Parole Rules. The arrangements for providing vocational
training and paid work to convicts are also notable features of jail administration. Inadequacy of
health cover can be mentioned as a major deficiency of jail establishment in Andhra Pradesh.
Regular jail doctors are available only at Central Jails and in 7 out of a total of 9 District Jails. Sub
Jails numbering 120 are without any medical cover. They do not have even the First Aid facility.
High mortality rate of prisoners in jails is also a cause for concern. A number of instances of noncompliance
with the Commission’s instructions regarding the death of prisoners were detected.
3.49 The recreational facilities are poor and need improvement. The plight of women prisoners
especially UTPs present another prominent weaknesses of the jail administration in Andhra
Pradesh. The legal aid system meant to serve the poor prisoners also needs a critical evaluation
to see whether it is functioning effectively. A number of Under-trial prisoners were found not
being provided with any legal aid. The system of premature release of lifers needs to be streamlined
following the guidelines issued by the NHRC.
Prisons in Goa
3.50 While Goa is relatively free from overcrowding except the Sub Jail Sada, living conditions
are dismal as most of the jail buildings are in a state of advance decay and beyond any economical
repair. The utilization of modernization grant received from the Government of India for improving
the infrastructure is inefficient and slow. Prisoners’ education, recreation and general welfare
are not receiving proper attention. Works programmes being run in jails are in a state of neglect
and cover not even 10% of the convict population. The arrangement of supply of food through
private contractors at the judicial lock-ups calls for a review. Medical facilities are highly
inadequate. It is shocking that even the sole Central jail in the State is without a regular Medical
Officer. The plight of women prisoners especially the under-trial prisoners presents a glaring
defficiency of the jail administration. NGOs have been involved in jail matters. The jail department
does not have any independent status of its own and it is functioning as part of the Collectorate
National Human Rights Commission Annual Report - 2004-2005
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