Faridabad’s open jail to house 36 convicts

Bijendra Ahlawat

The authorities have initiated the process of making two BHK flats available to 36 convicts of the district jail in Faridabad, under the “open jail” programme launched by the state government.

After Karnal, Faridabad is the second district to be selected in the first phase of the programme.

An official says the government has released Rs 62 lakh for the renovation of flats, at present available on the jail premises. “The flats will be provided to those who have completed a majority of their sentences and showed excellent conduct,” he adds.

As many as 2,400 prisoners are lodged in the district jail and of them around 1,200 are convicts and the remaining under-trials. The total capacity of the jail located at Neemka village is 2,500. “Tenders for the work to renovate flats are likely to be floated next month,” says District Jail Superintendent Deepak Sharma.

He says the Haryana Police Housing Corporation will carry out the work and the flats are expected to be ready by January 2019.

A team of officials headed by the Jail Superintendent will select the eligible convicts. They along with their families will be able to shift to the flats by mid-January next year. The flats being readied for the purpose were initially built for the jail staff but have been lying vacant.

“More flats can be built for the convicts if the scheme proves to be a success,” says Sharma.

The facility is free of cost as the convicts will neither pay rent nor any fee for the basic amenities. The allottees will be free to work outside the jail, but within the 10-km radius. They will have to report back to the jail authorities in the evening.