NHRC issues notices to CS of all States, UTs calling for reports in four weeks
NHRC takes suo motu cognisance of difficulties being faced by prisoners
Hyderabad: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the various difficulties being faced by the prisoners, including the women inmates and their children, in jails across the country.
These include overcrowding, lack of basic amenities and healthcare facilities in jails. The issues have been brought to its notice by its Special Monitors and Rapporteurs, through their reports after visiting various jails across the country, as well as the complaints.
Some other concerns raised include the violation of the rights to dignity and safety of the women prisoners, increased violence against them causing mental distress, unhygienic conditions without adequate toilet, sanitary napkins, clean drinking water facilities, poor quality food resulting in malnourishment particularly in the pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Lack of educational opportunities to children of women prisoners living in jails with them, non-implementation of their welfare programmes including legal aid, vocational training and rehabilitation were also raised.
Therefore, the Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretaries of all the States and Union Territories (UTs) to submit a report within four weeks on the following matters - the number of women prisoners lodged in jails in their State, number of women prisoners whose babies are lodged in jails on account of the mothers being incarcerated, the number of women prisoners, who are convicted prisoners and those who are undertrial prisoners.
Details of the number of women undertrial prisoners who are languishing for more than a year in jail and the number of male undertrial prisoners and those who are languishing in jail for more than a year were also sought.