Jail reform makes priests of inmates

Bhopal: As part of a package of jail reforms, prisoners will be made to undergo training for priests even while the architecture of prisons could change in accordance with an ancient Indian science to bring out the "goodness" in some criminals.

With increasing incidents of violence being reported from state jails, Madhya Pradesh Jail Minister Dhal Singh Bisen believes that changes in accordance with the principles of vaastu will "bring out the goodness in prisoners".

"Sometimes just changing the position of gates, doors and windows leads to a flow of positive energies,” Bisen said.

"If changes according to vaastu bring down the crime graph, society will benefit," he added.

Bisen also wants the inmates to undergo 'rajpurohit' training (a training course for priests). Some inmates in Gwalior have already been trained.

"The prisoners can serve as priests after their terms are over," Bisen said.

In a bid to reform prisoners, the jail department has launched a comprehensive reform package. Top on the list is protection of human rights.

The department also plans to allow prisoners to live with their families in jail if they behave well.

The government also intends to build special family jails for "well-behaved" prisoners. There are two such family jails in Sangmer and Durgapur in Rajasthan.

Last year, it encouraged inmates to put up a three-day bandi hit diwas (a cultural show for the welfare of the prisoners).

With incidents of violence being reported from the state's overcrowded jails they no longer seem safe for inmates.

"To think that jails in Madhya Pradesh are safe, unlike those in Bihar, is like living in a fool's paradise. It is wrong to say that only jails in the Chambal region lodge dreaded criminals," said a senior police official, who did not want to be named.

"It is difficult to tackle hardcore criminals. There is a shortage of staff and we have to work under tremendous pressure. This has led to many jailbreaks in the past two years," he said.

Most jails are packed five times their capacity. Of the 30,000 prisoners lodged in the 128 jails of the state, 10,000 are serving long terms.

So, maybe Bisen’s reform plans could actually make a difference to the lives of these prisoners and help them turn a new leaf.