Capt okays live wire fencing, CCTVs in jails
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 20
Paving the way for sweeping reforms in the state’s prison administration, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday ordered a series of measures, including Artificial Intelligence-enabled CCTV system, live wire fencing and creation of a separate prison intelligence wing, to make the jails secure.
Gives nod to…
- Installation of artificial intelligence-enabled CCTV system in nine Central jails
- Installation of video conferencing system in all jails
- Filling 305 posts of warders, besides others
The Chief Minister also gave a go-ahead for a legislation to establish Punjab Prison Development Board in the ongoing session.
While accepting the Prison Department’s department proposal for live wire fencing (220/440 volts) along the outer walls of the jails, Capt Amarinder approved installation of artificial intelligence-enabled CCTV system in nine Central jails, seven district jails and two special jails.
Chairing a meeting to review the functioning of the Prisons Department, the Chief Minister asked Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa to ensure that the best practices of prison administration were followed in the state jails and directed the department to submit within four weeks a comprehensive plan for restructuring the jails.
To minimise the expenditure involved in presenting undertrials in courts (to the tune of Rs 40-50 lakh a day), the Chief Minister okayed the department’s proposal for installation of video conferencing system in all jails.
To ensure foolproof security through adequate staff, Capt Amarinder also gave go-ahead for filling 305 posts of warders, already approved by Officers’ Committee and the state Cabinet, in addition to another 448 posts of warders and 28 posts of matrons lying vacant.
