Home Minister Anita Pushes for Prison Reforms
AP has 106 prisons, including several non-functional facilities. Anita ordered the preparation of a separate list of 25 unused jails and asked officials to examine their restoration and utilisation for prison-related activities.
Vijayawada: Home Minister Vangalapudi Anita on Tuesday directed prison officials to submit proposals for establishing district prisons in the newly formed districts, saying every district should eventually have its own jail facility.
Officials, the minister said, must accelerate prison reforms and strengthen fire safety systems across the state. She stressed the need for modern infrastructure, quicker emergency response and improved public safety measures.
Chairing separate review meetings with prison and fire services department officials at the secretariat, the minister discussed matters like overcrowding in prisons, rehabilitation measures, manpower shortages and expansion of fire safety infrastructure.
Reviewing the prisons department affairs, Anita sought a report on setting up special MAPS courts for NDPS cases and asked officials to formulate a structured system for psychiatric support to inmates.
AP has 106 prisons, including several non-functional facilities. Anita ordered the preparation of a separate list of 25 unused jails and asked officials to examine their restoration and utilisation for prison-related activities.
Expressing concern over the severe overcrowding in Rajamahendravaram and Visakhapatnam prisons, the minister wanted officials to prepare proposals for shifting inmates to the restored facilities and devise a comprehensive action plan to ease prison congestion.
She also reviewed the demolition of the Bheemunipatnam jail and asked officials to initiate legal action wherever required. Restoration proposals for the non-functional Chintapalli jail using ITDA funds were also sought.
The minister called for rehabilitation-oriented reforms, including skill development programmes for prisoners, continuous monitoring of parolees and proposals for rehabilitation and de-addiction centres alongside prisons.
She also asked officials to explore the use of NLJD devices to curb mobile phone misuse inside jails and prepare SOP-based short-term and long-term prison reform plans.
In a separate review of the fire services department, Anita expressed concern over the absence of fire stations in 22 assembly constituencies and directed officials to expedite establishment of five proposed stations.
She also suggested setting up fire outposts in industrial zones with industry participation.
Highlighting an acute manpower shortage, the minister ordered phased filling of 1,275 vacancies and speedy recruitment for 305 posts already included in the state job calendar. She directed officials to reduce fire emergency response time from the present 25–30 minutes to 15 minutes through a dedicated action plan.
