Question : FUNDS FOR JAIL REFORMS

(a) the total number of jails in the country and their capacity along with the total funds granted, released and utilized during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise including Gujarat;

(b) the total number of prisoners serving sentence, undertrials and other prisoners in the country separately, State-wise;

(c) whether the Union Government has received any proposal/ request regarding jail reforms/modernisation of jails and to release additional funds from various State Governments including Punjab and Gujarat;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard;

(e) whether the Government has any proposal to extend the modernisation of prisons scheme; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI JITENDRA SINGH)

(a): As per the data compiled by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) at the end of year 2010, there are 1,393 jails in the country with capacity of 3,20,450 prisoners. Since the Scheme of Modernisation of Prisons ended on 31.3.2009, thereafter no funds have been granted to States.

(b): State/UT-wise statement of number of prisoners serving sentence, Undertrials and other prisoners in the country as per data compiled by National Crime Records Bureau at the end of December 2010 is enclosed at Annexure.

(c) to (d): A proposal from the Government of Gujarat was received for additional funds amounting to Rs.51.15 crore in the year 2010 to complete the ongoing projects of the scheme. However, as the scheme was closed on 31.3.2009, it was not granted.

(e) to (f): With a view to provide more funds under modernisation of prisons, proposal for Second Phase of scheme is under active consideration in this Ministry.