JAIL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

More staff for jails in state : Biswanath Chaudhury

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 20: State prison minister Mr Biswanath Chaudhury announced today in Cooch Behar that more personnel will be recruited in the jails in the state. A meeting was held recently with the chief minister over the issue. As the pattern of criminal activities are changing the jail authorities had to deploy policemen in different jails. For this reason more staffs are needed to maintain peace in the prisons, the minister clarified.

There is a plan under consideration to install scanners in the six central jails in the state. One may smuggle in weapons or objectionable things covertly hidden in food items or by other means in the prisons. To check this the scanner installation is needed, Mr Chaudhury explained.

Issues like ration for the jail warders and absorption of casual workers engaged for more than ten years are also under consideration, the minister said.

After a meeting with concerned officials the minister said they would start pisciculture in the pond situated inside Cooch Behar District Correctional Home. Once the plan implemented the prisoners may be able to consume more fish. The surplus fish will be sent to other jails and it may invite revenue too, the minister hoped.

Talking with media persons at the PWD bungalow here, the minister disclosed that initiative have been taken to extend the Jalpaiguri Jail and proposals invited from other jails for extension work. The Islampur Jail may be upgraded to a special jail, as there exists a vast unused space in that jail, he added.

Mr Chaudhury, who is also the social welfare minister, said, among the sanctioned 416 Anganwadi projects are running and 160 new projects are on the pipeline. 50,036 workers will be recruited for 25,018 Anganwadi centres. New centres will be set up at tribal populated areas, hilly and riverside areas. Priority will be given to the bordering areas, women trafficking prone areas and slum areas, he added. Additional facilities for the Anganwadi workers and improvement of foods for the children are also under consideration.

The minister also explained the Maintenance and Welfare of Senior Citizens Act by which neglected parents would be able to get justice and alimony from their able descendants.