Bhubaneswar: In a move to implement 5T Mandate in Prison Administration, Reforms, Technology, Security have been prioritized by the Odisha Government in 2021 for all 86 prisons of Odisha.
Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, Odisha, Santosh Kumar Upadhyay has been implementing the Government Directive in the Prisons across the State.
For strengthening security of prisons and implementation of latest technology, one additional post in rank of Inspector General of Prisons has been sanctioned.
Accordingly Himanshu Kumar Lal has joined as IG Prisons, who will supervise and implement best practices adopted in other States like use of Dominant Power Technology for inactivating networking of phones, deep search metal detectors, body worn cameras etc.
After rolling out of e-prisons module and new Prisons Manual in 2020, next mission has been set up to interlink ICJS with CCTNS, e-prisons, e-courts .
Besides above, e-mulakat module for interview of prisoners as per e-prisons’ higher degree is being envisaged.
In order to fast track parole/furlough/premature release of prisoners, technology-based App for time-bound disposals by all stakeholders (District Magistrates, Superintendent of Police(SP) Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Jail Superintendent, and the Prisons Directorate have been mandated under 5T Charter for 2021-22.
All Prison Superindents have been directed to keep strict vigil against any type of breach of security and drastic action has been initiated against men of adverse integrity/inefficiency.
To tackle pandemic in 2020, all jails had taken suitable prophylactic measures which had enhanced prisoners satisfaction.
New introduction of sanitation-related machineries was done in jails for first time in 2020-21 like sanitary napkin incinerators, fogging machine, Bush cutter, washing machines etc.
All Prison Superintends have been geared up to their dual responsibilities of prison management as well as reforms of prisoners by providing them suitable vocational training, spiritual inputs so that they are mainstreamed to society as good citizens after release.
Existing micro/small scale industries like manufacturing of hand loom products, blankets, durry/asans, pisciculture, agricultural farming, dairy, smith units etc are being broadbased by introduction of new food processing units such as atta, vesan, turmeric powder, parched rice(mudhi),mustard oil, groundnut/til oil etc; vermin compost and other localized products.
These genuine and quality products have receive wide acceptance among the general public and sale is picking up slowly and steadily, officials say.
Against modest achievement of turnover of Rs 1.36 Crore in 2019-20,prisons have been asked to raise turnover to Rs 5 Crore in 2021-22
All Jail Superintends have been asked to maximize internal production of edible foodstuff like flour atta by June 2021.
Jail products of Bhubaneswar, Choudwar, Jaipur have already attracted huge public response which are being sold at stalls in front of these jails.
State-level exhibition and sale of all jail products on daily basis has been opened at Darghabazar,Cuttack, which has attracted attention of public at large and acceptance of the quality products.