Haryana prisoners soon to work outside in factories, farms

Jail inmates in Haryana will soon be able to work outside in factories or farms during the day. They would be escorted back to prisons in the evening by the jail staff.

Jail minister Krishan Lal Panwar said the‘open air jail’ system would soon be implemented in Haryana. Jail inmate would be allowed to work outside with prior permission of the jail superintendent. Various factors, including an inmates conduct, will be taken into consideration before granting this concession. The inmate would come back to the jail in the evening, he said.

Sources said, getting them employed too will be a challenge as employers will be reluctant to hire a jail inmate.  This system of open jail already exists in Himachal Pradesh where inmates work in shops during the day.

The department also has plans to set up a campus with facility of quarters would be developed outside the jail where inmates could live with their families. The minister, who was in Panchkula here today, said the state government is taking concrete steps to improve the jails and it has been decided to engage 400 ex-servicemen as jail wardens.