CANADIAN HELP FOR JAILS IN THE OFFING

Canadian experts will assist the state prison department officers in checking recurrent clashes in various prisons and improving facilities provided to inmates lodged there. Former prison minister of Ontario province (Canada), Rob Sampson, gave this assurance to UP prison minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia on Thursday.

LUCKNOW: Canadian experts will assist the state prison department officers in checking recurrent clashes in various prisons and improving facilities provided to inmates lodged there.

Former prison minister of Ontario province (Canada), Rob Sampson, gave this assurance to UP prison minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia on Thursday.

Sampson met the prison minister at the latter’s office and discussed various issues concerned with the state prisons.

Talking to HT, Ramoowalia said, “I will apprise chief minister Akhilesh Yadav of the suggestions given by Sampson for improvement of the facilities in the state jails. Once the chief minister gives green signal, a delegation of the officers will visit Canada for conducting a study in this regard,” he said.

“Measures have been taken by the state government to provide quality service to the undertrials lodged in the jails. The quality of food has improved, RO is being installed to supply pure drinking water and new barracks have been constructed to decongest the prisons,” Ramoowalia said.

“Recently, undertrials clashed with staffs in some of the jails and police were called to control the mob. During investigation we found that the jail inmates indulged in violence due to frustration and harsh life,” he added.

“We have removed the mesh in the meeting halls so that undertrials could interact with the visitors freely. Jail officers have been told to grant parole to the undertrials who wish to attend family functions”, the minister said.

Talking to HT, Sampson said, “In Canada, the undertrials are lodged in jails and also granted permission to spend the conviction period with community. A skill training programme is organised by the prison department so that undertrials gets employment or become self-dependent after they are released from the prison.”

“I am ready to share my experience with the jails officers in making the state prisons more human and serene place,” Sampson said.