Prisoners’ Welfare Day observed at Chittoor sub-jail

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District Collector Sumit Kumar distributes sweets to inmates at the sub-jail in Chittoor on Friday to mark Gandhi Jayanti.

Prisoners’ Welfare Day was observed at the sub-jail here on Friday to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s 157th birth anniversary, with the focus on reformation and rehabilitation of inmates.

District Collector Sumit Kumar, District Legal Services Authority Secretary and Senior Civil Judge M.S. Bharathi and jail superintendent Venkata Reddy paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.

Addressing the inmates, Mr. Sumit Kumar said poverty and family pressures often drove people into crime, but their welfare and future remained a priority for the administration. He assured them of support from the administration, judiciary and police in addressing deficiencies in toilets, drinking water, power supply, kitchen facilities and recreation. Legal aid would also be provided to those unable to afford bail, he said.

Mr. Sumit Kumar urged the inmates to follow the principles of truth and non-violence and cautioned them against confessing to crimes they had not committed for money. He advised them to use their time in prison constructively and return to society as responsible citizens.

Ms. Bharathi said no one was born a criminal and advised the inmates against taking the law into their own hands. She cautioned them against offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and stressed the need to respect women and girls. She urged the inmates to make use of free skill training in tailoring and electrical work.

Mr. Venkata Reddy said the Chittoor sub-jail, constructed during the British Raj, was upgraded as a district jail on March 29, 2012. It now had separate wards, a six-bed hospital, RO water facility and a library. Nutritional support was being provided to women inmates with children below six years, while inmates requiring specialised treatment were referred to higher medical institutions, he said.

Later, the inmates participated in cultural programmes. Prizes were distributed to winners of sports and games competitions.

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