Prisons Department, Jammu & Kashmir
Jammu – J&K, January 25th 2021: On the eve of Republic Day, 2021, a cultural programme was presented by the inmates at District Jail Jammu, Amphalla. Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, J&K was the Chief Guest. The programme was graced by Shri R. R. Bhatnagar, Advisor to Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, Shri B. V. R. Subrahmanyam, IAS, Chief Secretary, J&K, Shri V. K. Singh, IPS, DGP Prisons, Shri Dilbag Singh, IPS, DGP J&K, Shri Shaleen Kabra, IAS, Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department, J&K , J&K, Shri Mukesh Singh, IPS, IGP Jammu, Smt. Sushma Chauhan, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. M. S. Lone, DIG Prisons, Shri Shridhar Patil, IPS, SSP Jammu.
The programme was also attended by Smt. Shashi Sudhan Sharma, Principal GMC, Jammu, Academicians- Dr. Arti Bakhshi, Head Department of Psychology, University of Jammu and Dr. Piyali Arora, Assistant Professor/Clinical psychologist, Govt. College for Women, Parade and Superintendent Jails of Central Jail Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua, Hiranagar, Rajouri, Bhaderwah, Reasi and Officers from Prison Headquarter.
During the programme various cultural items like patriotic songs, bollywood classics & popular numbers were presented by the inmates which received thunderous applause from the audience. The programme was conducted while observing necessary COVID-19 SOP/protocol.
Superintendent District Jail Jammu, Mirza Saleem Beig in his welcome address underlined various steps taken by the Prisons Department for welfare of prisoners & improving prison administration. He said that Prison administration is committed to providing better correctional programmes to the inmates which include educational/vocational training programmes, awareness programs and recreational activities.
DGP Prisons, V. K. Singh in his address expressed his profound gratitude to the Chief Guest for making this historic visit to the DJ Jammu and for inspiring the inmates towards reformation besides inspiring the Team Prisons J&K. He highlighted that the Department is working towards making jails more tech savvy by the introduction of video conferencing facility for trial/remand purpose, e-mulaqat facility & Prison Inmate Calling System besides establishment of modern interview rooms in jails. During COVID pandemic a total of 539 inmates across various Jails were affected but all recovered except two who succumbed due to comorbidities. Presently, there is no COVID case in any Jail of J&K. He said that cognitive behavioral therapy was taken up for insomnia affected inmates at District Jail Jammu (61) and Central Jail Jammu, Kot Bhalwal (74). He also informed that since March, 2020, 3180 inmates have been released on bail by Hon’ble Courts & 41 inmates have been released on parole in pursuance of decisions taken by the High Powered Committee.