Pune to have first open jail system for women inmates in the country

PUNE - Having received a go ahead from the Central Government, the historical Yerawada Central Jail in Maharashtra’s Pune city is all set to have first open jail for women inmates in the country.

This Open Jail will be inaugurated on the occasion of Republic Day, January 26, 2010.

The objective behind the introducing the open prison system is to inculcate a sense of self-confidence among chosen women inmates and improve their living condition. In this, the women inmates will be given training in farming, painting, weaving and other skills. The women prisoners will also earn remuneration for their work.

It is expected once skilled, these women on release will be able to take up a paying vocation and put behind the sad chapter of imprisonment in their life.

The State Home Minister Ramesh Bagwe said that the idea to have women’s open prison system after observing that in men’s prison, the prisoners raised ample remuneration for their work besides developing a reformed attitude in their outlook. It was felt even women prisoners had the right to receive remuneration for their work.

“This open jail for women has been in demand since many years as in men’s jail, some inmates receive financial assistance for the work they do. Sometimes if a prisoner is convicted for 10 years, their punishment even gets reduced to five years. So whatever the men receive even women have the right to receive the same. Therefore this concept of open women’s prison came in mind,” said Ramesh Bagwe

The proposal by the Maharashtra administration for open jail for women was pending with the Central government for the last four years, and has now finally been approved. By Shivaji Saluke (ANI)