Telangana on correction course? Officials say 17 out of 49 jails closed in 5 years

A metamorphosis of sorts seems to be happening in Telangana. In an incredulous development, the Prisons Department in Telangana has closed down 17 of the 49 jails across the State during the last five years due to a considerable drop in the number of prisoners coming to the jails. Officials attribute it to better correctional and rehabilitation measures undertaken by the Department.

By :  migrator
Update: 2019-05-19 01:59 GMT
illustration: saai

Chennai

Thanks to the above mentioned measures, number of prisoners came down to 5000 from 7000 a couple of years ago, State  Prisons and Correctional Services Director General V K Singh said. The Department is also planning to convert the closed jails into social welfare centres or special homes for destitutes, beggars and orphans, the official added.

The Department would become self-sufficient by next year, Singh said, adding, the prisons wing, which  incurs an annual expenditure of Rs 100 crore, is going to establish 20 more fuel stations this year. Currently, 18 petrol pumps are operational and the department, as part of a tie-up with petroleum companies, is going to set up more fuel stations in the next six months, the DG said.

A major expenditure goes towards paying salaries of the prison staff and most of the earnings coming from petrol pumps was being operated with ex-convicts, Singh said. The Department is targeting setting up of 100 fuel stations with an aim to earn Rs 100 crore, he stated.

The Department also plans to send a proposal to the government to check maintenance of such government hospitals and schools, the DG added.

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