One guarding staff for every six prisoners as Odisha approves new jail manual

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has approved the revised jail manual under which one guarding staff will be deployed for every six prisoners.

As per the new manual, prison administration shall ensure separation of different categories of prisoners such as Civil Prisoners, Undertrials, Female Prisoners, Convicted Prisoners, Young Offenders, First offenders, Habitual Offenders, and High Security Prisoners.

Close prisons have been classified into three categories– Circle Jail, District Jail and Sub Jail, and the authorized population for these prisons should be 1000, 500 and 300 prisoners, respectively.

All prisons shall have their own mechanized laundry. Treatment of drug addicts and de-addiction programme are also part of the revised jail manual.

“Convict prisoners shall be allowed for interview twice in a month. Newly convicted prisoners shall be allowed reasonable facilities for seeing or communicating with relatives and friends,” the manual said.