Jharkhand to open de-addiction centres in central jails for the first time

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur/Ranchi, Feb 5: In a first for Jharkhand, de-addiction centres will be established in central jails to help prisoners struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. The state government has initiated this move and the Jail IG has formally corresponded with all central jails in the state, including Ghaghidih Jamshedpur, Birsa Munda Jail Hotwar, JP Jail Hazaribagh, Central Jail Dumka, Central Jail Giridih, Central Jail Medininagar and Deoghar. Jail superintendents have been instructed to submit detailed proposals for setting up the centres.

The Women, Child Development and Social Security Department, along with the Home, Jail and Disaster Management Department, has issued guidelines based on directives from the Central Government. The proposals must include site selection and infrastructure details, after which further action will be taken. Jharkhand’s prisons house around 17,000 inmates, a majority of whom are under trial.

Mental Healthcare in Jails Affected Since COVID-19

Mental health services in Hotwar Jail were disrupted after COVID-19. Earlier, doctors from Rinpas (Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry & Allied Sciences) provided regular treatment to mentally ill prisoners. After the pandemic, this practice ceased and even the system of transporting affected inmates to Rinpas for treatment was discontinued. This has left many prisoners suffering from mental illness and stress without proper medical attention.

West Bengal model: A successful implementation

Jharkhand is taking inspiration from West Bengal, where de-addiction centres are already operational in jails. Initially, two central jails in Bengal launched these centres and now three more jails are in the process of setting them up. The West Bengal jail administration has collaborated with Missionaries of Charity for this initiative.

One stop centres for women in five more cities

Apart from prison reforms, seven new One Stop Centres will be established in Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Hazaribagh. These centres will provide immediate assistance to women facing violence. Currently, each of the 24 districts in Jharkhand has one One Stop Centre, but recognizing the demand in these five districts, the Central Government has approved additional centres under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. The Women, Child Development and Social Security Department has already sent a Rs 10 crore proposal to the Planning Department for the initiative.