Noting the changes in jail administration : More than a place to house criminals
- Sangai Express Editorial :: August 27, 2013 -

Definitely uncharacteristic of The Sangai Express.

But the defining characteristic of a newspaper may change in tune with the changing reality and from one of the fiercest critics of the manner in which Sajiwa Jail was run and managed a few years back, today The Sangai Express will not hesitate to ac¬knowledge the positive changes that have been taking place recently.

Readers who have been following the observations and comments made in this column would surely remember the manner in which the lapses and loopholes in the running of the jail were torn asunder for one and all to read and digest.

From under trial prisoners running a well oiled, well established cartel, a local avatar of the infamous Mafia of the west, and indulging in extorting from the public in the name of any underground organisation, threats issued to newspaper establishments for not publishing press statements issued under the directives of some of the master minds from inside the jail, riots inside the jail, The Sangai Express has had its say and given numerous calls to sanities the jail.

Haven for criminals is a term that was often used.

It is also uncharacteristic of The Sangai Express to dwell on the same topic within a span of a few days or weeks, but exceptions can be made, when there are positive changes taking place at the ground level.

This is not to say that everything is hunky dory with the jail administration in Manipur, but the progress from the 'haven of criminals' to the rehabilitation programmes that are now being taken up is something which cannot go unnoticed.

It is not the case of The Sangai Express to sing paeans to the new programmes being taken up inside Sajiwa Jail, but the efforts being made certainly deserves a mention.

From giving criminals under trial a free hand inside the jail to now conducting yoga classes, Art of Living, body building and opening a study centre of the Indira Gandhi National Open University, the changes are perceptible.

A jail is a jail.

A place built to primarily house criminals who pose a threat to the security of their fellow citizens. Yet it is this and it should also be something more.

That efforts are being made to move beyond the mere understanding of jaijs being constructed to: keep criminals of all- hues and colours inside the confines of a structure is there to be seen at Sajiwa.

A beginning certainly seems to have been made, but note the stress on the term beginning.

A beginning to understand that there is something called jail administration and central to this idea is the importance of jails as an institution.

As things stand today, Manipur still follows the Assam Jail Manual, drafted decades back. Maybe some thoughts may be given on how to intro- duce reforms to keep up with the changing needs of the time.

Under the Assam Jail Manual, the jail administration is not expected to provide sporting kits to the inmates. This is something which can be looked into.

Provisions for sports items such as a volley ball, a football or any sports material may be included in the funds earmarked for jail administration.

Perhaps the State Government may study this and reflect it in the next financial year.

It need not run into crores of rupees but keeping aside a certain sum of money for the recreation of the jail inmates will not have a negative impact on the financial health of the State.

Last heard, efforts are also on to provide library facilities to the inmates. This is a positive move, but it remains to be seen how committed the State Government will be towards this Endeavour.

Let the innovative works being taken up at the jail do not end at the stage of the beginning.

This is the submission of The Sangai Express.