Convicts aged over 60 to get young attendants

Convicts above the age of 60 lodged in Tihar Prison now have an oldage ward where they will have young attendants care for them. About 150 prisoners are benefiting from this facility that was launched around a fortnight ago.

“Young boys are deployed in the ward to help these aged inmates. Doctors visit this ward on a day-to-day basis. The aged prisoners require special treatment and this facility will provide that,” said Vimla Mehra.

While the beneficiaries for now consist of only convicts, the helpers will include undertrials as well as those serving sentences. As of now, around 20 such helpers have already been deployed in this ward. They will keep an eye on these senior citizens and help them in their daily needs and with their medicines and treatment.

“As part of the special facilities, these old prisoners will be provided cots to sleep on. Generally, inmates at Tihar Jail are provided mattresses which are spread on the floor,” said Sunil Kumar Gupta, Tihar’s PRO. Security personnel will be deputed at the ward round-the-clock to keep an eye on any prisoner who might try to misuse the special facilities. This special ward is separate from the 120-bed Central Jail Hospital that already provides treatment to prisoners.

The need arose after doctors at the prison detected several terminally ill patients, mostly the aged, who required regular care and treatment. Prison authorities claimed that while doctors managed to save lives of many such prisoners who had just two to three months to live, the round-the-clock care could be provided only in a separate facility and by younger inmates. While 2012 saw only 18 inmates die, last year 36 lost their lives.