Jails no longer places of punishment, but have become 'Prayashchit Bhavan': MoS for Prisons Kamlesh Patel
Gandhinagar, June 21
While addressing the appointment letter distribution programme for Class-1 and Class-2 officers, Minister of State for Prisons Kamlesh Patel on Sunday stated that in the present era, jails are no longer just places for serving punishment but have become 'Prayashchit Bhavan' and correctional institutions. When we perform our duties with honesty and dedication, God also takes care of our families.
According to an official statement released by the Minister's office, appointment letters were distributed to a total of 11 newly appointed Class-1 and Class-2 officers under the Prison Division of the Home Department at Swarnim Sankul, Gandhinagar, by Minister of State for Prisons Kamlesh Patel and other dignitaries present on the occasion.
On this occasion, Minister of State Kamlesh Patel recalled Lord Krishna's principle of 'Karmayoga' and inspired the newly appointed officers to work with dedication and excellence. He stated that not every person who enters a jail is a born criminal or possesses a criminal mindset. Often, individuals are pushed towards crime due to circumstances. Therefore, prison officials must perform their duties with humanity and sincerity.
Emphasising the importance of mental well-being, the Minister said that while the government is making adequate arrangements for physical health, it is equally essential to ensure the mental well-being of prisoners. To make inmates mentally strong, prison officers and staff must first become mentally resilient and empowered themselves.
Citing the example of Sabarmati Jail, he said that several small and large-scale industries such as carpentry work, furniture manufacturing, and food packaging are being successfully operated by inmates there. Such vocational training will enable prisoners to become self-reliant even after their release. He further stressed that a special humanitarian and sensitive approach should be adopted towards women inmates and any young children accompanying them.
Under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, the State Government is continuously making efforts to strengthen, modernize, and enhance the efficiency of the prison administration. He added that the induction of newly appointed officers will further accelerate prison administration, security management, and correctional services.
He stated that wherever they are posted in Gujarat, the officers should undertake exemplary prison reform initiatives so that Gujarat's prisons and the department earn recognition and pride across the country.
On this occasion, Principal Secretary (Home) Nipuna Torawane, senior officials of the Home Department and Prison Division, and the newly appointed officers were present.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Absolutely agree with the humanitarian approach towards women and children in jails. I've heard about the Sabarmati Jail industries—makes sense to give vocational training so ex-convicts can actually reintegrate into society instead of returning to crime. But we need to ensure these skills are relevant to the job market in 2024, not just carpentry. Jai Hind.
It's refreshing to hear a politician talk about rehabilitation rather than just punishment. The mention of mental well-being for both prisoners and staff is crucial—you can't heal others if you're broken yourself. I just hope this isn't limited to Gujarat and other states follow suit soon.
The Karmayoga reference from Lord Krishna is apt. But isn't it ironic that we talk about 'correctional institutions' while our judicial system itself is so slow that many prisoners spend years waiting for trial? Fix the root cause first—let's reduce the number of people in jails before calling them Prayashchit Bhavans. 😕
As someone who has volunteered in prison literacy programs, I can say that many inmates genuinely want to turn their lives around. Vocational training is good, but also need education—literacy, digital skills, and even legal awareness. A prisoner who can read and know his rights is a citizen who can rebuild himself. Kudos to the minister for this vision.
This is a progressive statement, but I wish they'd also acknowledge the caste and class bias in the criminal justice system. Many poor and Dalit individuals end up in jails due
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