EXAMINE INMATES ON REGULAR A BASIS, SC PANEL TELLS OFFICIALS

JODHPUR: The high-power committee constituted on the directions of the Supreme Court has taken the 600 active Covid-19 cases in Rajasthan jails seriously and asked the chief medical officers and jail doctors of all the districts to examine the inmates on regular basis.

The committee further said that if they find or suspect anything relating to Covid-19 symptoms in any inmate, the same should be brought to the knowledge of the jail superintendent immediately for taking necessary steps for isolation and treatment of such inmates at the earliest, strictly in terms of guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health.

“Keeping in view the number of inmates found Covid positive and the congestion existing in the prisons, the committee recommends to the state government to treat the prison inmates in the age group of 18 to 44 years at par with other priority group to be vaccinated and accordingly, special vaccination camp may be organised in various Jails for vaccination of the inmates. The local bodies and CMHOS concerned may be directed to sanitise the jails periodically on priority basis,” the committee suggested.

In a meeting of the highpower committee, held under the chairmanship of Rajasthan High Court administrative judge Sangeet Lodha, director general (jail) Rajeev Dasot told that at present 37 doctors and 200 para medical staff are available with the office of DG (Prisons), who are deployed in different jails of the state as per requirement.

Apprising about the Covid protocol presently adopted by prisons, it was informed that Covid tests of the prisoners admitted to the jails are mandatorily conducted. The special isolation wards and the Covid patient wards are established in the jails with requisite medical facilities. DG (Prisons) further apprised that the inmates lodged in sub-jails, suffering from Covid-19 are kept in isolation and are administered medical treatment in coordination with the local administration. At present, there are 600 active Covid cases in various jails of the state.

Dasot expressed concern that out of 22,000 inmates, 3,200 inmates are above the age of 45 years and the rest fall in 18+ category.