Latest news with #SupporttoPoorPrisoners'
The Print
31-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Only 144 availed funds allotted for poor prisoners in two yrs, Maharashtra tops list, says MHA
According to the home ministry data, in the scheme's first year, fiscal 2023-24, only three states (Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand) utilised the funds and 17 prisoners were provided assistance. The scheme was launched in 2023, providing cash bail of up to Rs 40,000 and penalty payment of up to Rs 25,000 per prisoner to reduce the overcrowding of prisons and help the needy. New Delhi: Two years after the Union home ministry launched the 'Support to Poor Prisoners' scheme, only 144 prisoners have been provided assistance under it. The maximum beneficiaries are from Maharashtra, followed by Madhya Pradesh, according to data presented Tuesday in the Lok Sabha. In fiscal 2024-25, Maharashtra provided assistance to 33 prisoners, while Madhya Pradesh did for 25 prisoners. The next is Uttarakhand which aided 11 prisoners. Sikkim provided assistance to only one prisoner. In the ongoing fiscal so far, Maharashtra has provided assistance to 23 prisoners till July, while four other states have also used the scheme. Data for all states was not presented in the list. Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in his response in the Lok Sabha, said guidelines for implementation of the scheme were shared with all states and union territories on 19 June, 2023, and an annual financial outlay of Rs 20 crore provided for fiscals 2024, 2025 and 2026. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) was designated as the central nodal agency for implementation of the scheme. According to the ministry data, Rs 28.67 lakh have so far been utilised by the states under the scheme. Maharashtra secured up to Rs 5.27 lakh and Rs 3.84 lakh in the previous fiscal and the ongoing one, respectively. Administration and management of prisons and prisoners is the responsibility of state governments/UT administrations. The ministry claims that it has reviewed the progress of the scheme regularly and provided the required guidance to states/UTs. It has also directed them to raise awareness about the scheme and ensure that meetings of 'empowered committees' are held to maximise coverage under it. Based on the home ministry guidelines, the committee assesses the requirement of financial support in each case for securing bail or for payment of fine, etc. and, based on its decision, the district collector or district magistrate draws money from the designated account under the scheme. Also, if an undertrial is not released from jail within seven days of order of grant of bail, then the jail authority has to inform the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority. The authority would then inquire into the financial condition of the prisoner with the help of district social workers, NGOs, district probation officer and revenue officer. Also Read: The 7 criminal gangs of Delhi run from inside jail, use juveniles & apps such as Telegram Problem of overcrowding According to the National Prison Portal, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of prisoners at 92,166, followed by Bihar with 53,274, and Madhya Pradesh with 46,107. Maharashtra has around 40,495 prisoners. In Delhi, there are 16 prisons with around 19,500 prisoners against the sanctioned capacity of 10,026. 'There has been a steady increase in prisoner population over the last few years,' an official from Delhi's Tihar Jail told ThePrint. Amit Dwivedi, a criminal lawyer in Delhi, too asserted that 'overcrowding has become a serious issue in Delhi jails'. The courts take time in granting bail to first-time offenders, and usually, for petty crimes, it is expensive, and costs around Rs 20,000, he added. According to Arvind Rambachan Singh, a criminal lawyer practising in the Bombay High Court, most prisoners are in for petty crimes, are from underprivileged backgrounds and find it difficult to furnish a bail amount of Rs 5,000-10,000. 'In such cases, bail should be provided to prisoners on a personal bond,' he told ThePrint. Harshita Mishra, a legal professional, who has worked with legal service institutions, said: 'Many matters are taken up by the UTRC (Under Trial Review Committee) and an application is moved on behalf of undertrials unable to furnish bail bonds.' She said that DLSAs don't have regular meetings with the authorities concerned for recommending names under the aid scheme, and that National Legal Services Authority has taken up this matter and steps are under way to ensure regular meetings. 'Many undertrials are vagabonds with no ascertainable address. This is also acting as an impediment,' she explained. (Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui) Also Read: No, lockdown isn't like a prison. I was in Tihar, Dasna and Rohtak Jails for 14 years
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Jails in Maharashtra Overcrowded, 12,343 Inmates Beyond Capacity: Fadnavis in Council
Nagpur: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has admitted that jails in Maharashtra are severely overcrowded, with 12,343 excess inmates. "Against an official capacity of 27,184 inmates across central, district, and various-grade prisons in the state, there were 39,527 prisoners lodged as of May 2025," Fadnavis said in the state legislative council. Notably, Mumbai Central Jail, designed to house 999 prisoners, currently accommodates 3,268 inmates—over three times its intended capacity. Fadnavis was responding to a starred question raised by MLCs Satej Patil, Ashok Jagtap, Avinash Jadhav, and others regarding the alarming overcrowding in the state's correctional facilities. The CM informed the House that around 6,003 inmates are serving life terms, while 5,067 are undertrials. A large number—over 23,000—are either serving or awaiting trial for life or long-term sentences. Many of them are between 18 and 30 years of age. "To tackle the issue, the government has planned the construction of new prisons and additional barracks across the state. These measures will increase prison capacity by 17,110 in the coming period," Fadnavis said, adding that land is being identified for new jails. Despite the surge in inmate numbers, the prison administration is providing basic amenities such as clean drinking water, e-mulaqat, e-kiosks, video conferencing, smart card phone services, and televisions to improve living conditions, he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giá vàng đang tăng mạnh trong năm 2025 — Các nhà giao dịch thông minh đã tham gia IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo "Vocational training, adult education, spiritual programs, yoga, counselling, and formal degree programs are already underway in partnership with NGOs and universities like YCMOU and IGNOU. Agreements have also been signed with institutions such as the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives to support rehabilitation," Fadnavis added. He also said the state is extending financial assistance under the 'Support to Poor Prisoners' scheme to help economically disadvantaged inmates secure bail or pay fines. Free legal aid continues to be provided through district legal services authorities and social service organisations.
