National Women’s Commission member visits Central Jail

National women commission member Mamta Kumari reviewed the arrangements for protecting the human rights of women prisoners at during a visit at Amritsar central jail last evening.

Central Jail during a visit at Amritsar central jail last evening.

She interacted with women inmates, besides meeting administrative officials. She received information about women’s cases and said their cases should be settled by setting up a court inside the jail. She asked the jail authorities to ensure that the women inmates are allowed to meet their family members so that they do not fall prey to depression.

She visited the Central Jail and took stock of the arrangements for protecting the human rights of the prisoners. She interacted with the women prisoners in the Central Jail and listened to the difficulties being faced by them to get information about the free legal aid available as per the rules. She directed the central jail and administrative authorities to provide free legal aid to the needy women prisoners so that they can defend themselves despite not being financially capable. She said that the prisoners must have Aadhaar cards for which a camp should be set up in the central jail. Apart from this provision should be made to give pension to the widow women in the Central Jail. She ordered Jail staff to provide complete treatment to the diabetics and other serious diseases at the Central Jail.

She also inspected the system of giving work to the women prisoners in the jail according to their skills and said that they should be given work according to their skills so that they can participate in the progress of the society by starting life afresh. She stressed on holding awareness programs to improve behaviour of prisoners in the jail so that it can actually become a correctional home.

She also visited Bhai Ghanaiya ji Birdh Ashram and talked with the women. She said that they should be made aware about the pension schemes and other schemes run by the department and get the benefit of the schemes run by the government. During her meeting with the officials at the District Administration Complex, she directed for timely medical examination of the women living in the old age home and Ayushman cards should also be made. She said the main need of the hour was to give priority to the protection of the interests of women and solve the problems faced by them.

Wrapping up her two-day visit she on Wednesday visited Anganwadi centers at Harsha Chhina and reviewed the activities going on there. She learnt about the self-help group formed by women at Block Harsha Chhina while praising said that it is a matter of great joy that these women are not dependent on anyone.