MP’s overcrowded prisons get infrastructure upgrades to ease inmate pressure

Indore: Even though overcrowding in prisons of Madhya Pradesh remains high at 35.76%, slightly more than the national average of 34%, data released by state prison department shows a significant year-on-year correction.In just over one year, the state reduced overcrowding from 45.22% to 35.7% across its 133 jails — a nearly 10-point drop. The improvement comes even as large states across the country continue to report severe congestion in their correctional facilities.The state currently operates 133 prisons which include 11 central jails, 41 district jails, 73 sub jails and eight open jails. Together, they have a sanctioned capacity of 31,024 inmates. As of Jan 31, however, the total prison population stood at 42,119.Officials attribute the recent easing in pressure largely to capacity expansion and administrative reforms. In the past year alone, 21 new barracks were added across several prisons, while a revised release policy also helped reduce inmate numbers.The prison department is also pursuing a series of infrastructure upgrades and capacity-expansion measures to manage inmate pressure in the long term.Several new correctional facilities are being planned and built in different districts, while some existing sub jails are undergoing upgrades to improve accommodation and operational capacity.DGP (Prisons) Varun Kapoor said that these projects, once completed, were expected to add substantial space for prisoners. Alongside new prisons, construction activity is underway within existing jail premises, where additional barracks are being added to increase inmate housing capacity.The Supreme Court has been repeatedly asking states to prepare prison decongestion plans since May 6, 2016. The direction was reiterated on Oct 3, 2016, with a deadline of March 31, 2017 for states to submit concrete strategies to reduce overcrowding.