The National Commission for Women (NWC) organized an All India meeting with the Director Generals (DG) and Inspector Generals (IG) of the Prisons to discuss the policies and the topic of concern "Police Administration in Light of the Rights of Women Prisoners." A total of 16 DGs/IGs of Prisons, representatives from States all over India, members of DLSAs, NGOs, and academia, everyone attended this meeting.
Rekha Sharma, the Chairperson of the NWC headed the meeting. It also marked the presence of Shri Asholi Chalai, Joint Secretary of the NWC, and Shri James Miahlung, Deputy Secretary of the NWC.
The meeting started with a speech given by Rekha who stated the major factors and importance of amenities for female prisoners. She emphasized the need for prisoners to have proper access to all the necessary equipment. She also urged the Director General (DG) of Prisons to support these women and their families once they are released from the prisons.
The NWC has also proposed the inspection of various jails across India to keep a check on female detainees and also provide them with their guaranteed rights. These rights and facilities provided to the prisoners include counseling services, skill development training for female inmates, and their reintegration into the society.
There were also several recommendations made to enhance the situation of female prisoners by the officials present. These suggestions included increasing the number of prison employees, providing more focus on the prisoner’s mental health issues, resolving the problems related to prison infrastructure, making sure they are provided with high-quality legal aid facilities, and also ensuring that they receive thorough vocational training.
Along with these recommendations, there were also some additional suggestions like letting the prisoners have more face-to-face meetings with their families, providing some recreational amenities to them, investigating the feasibility of opening additional open prisons and halfway shelters, the availability of funding by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and also making connections between the prison administration and the District Legal Services Authority.
The Commission, at last, said that they will make sure that all of the above points and suggestions discussed in the meeting will soon be implemented in accordance to improve the welfare of women prisoners.
