Lose your freedom for a day, experience how prisoners spend their time behind bars
After medical and terror tourism, citizens will soon be able to tour and spend a night in jails and Thane is among the three chosen for a pilot project.
Jail is hardly a place that one would like to visit, forget living in it by one’s choice; however, everyone has a curiosity to know what goes on behind those bars.
Banking on this curiosity, jail administrations of Thane Sawnatwadi and Ratnagiri believe the concept of jail tourism would attract high footfalls.
Once launched, citizens may get an opportunity to go within the confines of a jail and experience ‘Feel the jail’ – a brainchild of Rajvardhan Sinha, Inspector General (Prisons).
“Actually, this is an ageold concept and already in place at Sangha Reddy jail in Telangana state. Sinha wanted this concept to be replicated in Maharashtra. He accordingly had sent me to visit the jail there to understand the whole concept and now I have submitted the report to him. I am sure this concept will work out,” said Thane Prison Superintendent Nitin Waychal.
During the tour, the visitors will be provided with a plate, clothes and food like all the other inmates. They will be able to feel the jail stay by being treated like other inmates.
“Sawantwadi is the place where many tourists visit and hence I think Sawantwadi jail will be a good idea. There were many freedom fighters who were kept as prisoners in this jail. People will be curious and interested in knowing where these fighters were kept and the conditions they lived in. We do have a glorious history to share with our people,” Waychal said.
The jail administration has prepared an action plan to decorate the walls with historical events and even paintings so that tourists have a ready reckoner. Information on old ways of punishments and conditions will displayed through the paintings. The visitors will be able to visit the place for hanging convicts and see the actual spot.
Almost all jails in Maharashtra were built during the British rule. Thane Fort was built by Portuguese and was converted into jail in 1857 during the British era.
Kanhoji Angre, Karve, Kanhere, Savarkar and Bhamre are some of the freedom fighters who were kept in the Thane jail. People are already queuing up to visit the jail, said Waychal.
“Many have enquired with us on the life behind the bars. This concept will be a good lesson to the outer world on avoiding crimes. Once you enter this jail, people will know how your freedom is lost,” added Waychal.
There is always a complaint about the food quality that inmates get. Therefore, the tourists will be provided the same food and they will judge on their own. There will be complete security and the tourists will not be able to meet the actual inmates. The police however sounded a caution saying they will check records of all the tourists before granting them permissions to take part in the tour.
This project will only be for male tourists as of now, Waychal informed.
BJP legislator Sanjay Kelkar has already promised to arrange government funds for decorating some of the the walls of Thane jail by taking help of the students of art. Currently, the Thane jail has 3,300 inmates.