Question : Women Prisoners

(a) whether there are reports of poor condition of women prisoners and the number of women security personnel deployed in jails is not in proportion to the number of women prisoners in the jails including in Tihar jail;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government in this regard;

(c) whether the Government has taken steps to improve the condition of women prisoners in jails and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the other corrective steps taken in this regard and for deployment of more
women security personnel in jails?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) & (b): As per data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau from States/UTs as on 31.12.2015, against 17834 women prisoners in various jails of the country, the number of women jail staff is 4391. Therefore, the ratio of women jail staff to women prisoners is approximately 1:4, which is within the recommended strength of institutional personnel in jails.
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L.S.US.Q.NO.4302 FOR 28.03.2017


(c) & (d): ‘Prisons’ is a State subject. The management and administration of prisons primarily falls in the domain of State Governments. However, the Government of India has been providing support and guidance to the States through various advisories issued from time to time, inter-alia, sharing recommendations of various Committees, Commissions, Working Groups and Court directions etc. aimed at improving the condition of women prisoners in jails. These advisories are available at http://mha1.nic.in/PrisonReforms/ advisiory.html
A specific chapter on ‘Women Prisoners’ has been provided in the Model Prison Manual 2016, which has been sent to all State Governments for the guidance. This chapter lays down several steps for the safety, healthcare, accommodation, legal aid and welfare of women prisoners. Specific guidance has also been provided in this chapter about the various levels of posts of female jail personnel to look after the matters of women prisoners.




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