<p>Perhaps inspired by the Valentine’s Day spirit, the Punjab government has announced residential suites in jails for inmates to enjoy conjugal bliss — if not for all times to come, at least for a week.<br /><br />The inspiration behind the state government’s Freudian thinking stems from “humanitarian grounds,” as Minister of Jails Hira Singh Gabria puts it. “This facility will help inmates who cannot get a leave from jail or those who are newly married and have to wait a long time to consummate their relationship,” he says.<br /><br />What Gabria perhaps did not take into account is that repressed prisoners might not be able to contain their hormone levels when they are given the week-long paradise. <br />Reservations<br /><br />Some officials here feared that once the genie is let out of the bottle there is no knowing how conjugal bliss might degenerate into savage violence.<br /><br />Nevertheless, the state government proposes to build 48 residential suites inside the jail premises at Kapurthala and Faridkot. Each suite will have a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and a lobby. Married inmates will be able to avail of the facility along with their spouse and children for a week.<br /><br />For the inmates to qualify for this virtual honeymoon in jail, they will have to show good conduct, says the minister.<br /><br />The suites will be ready in the next six months.<br /><br />Jail Department officials say social aloofness is leading to many inmates taking to drugs or violent behaviour in the confines of the jail.<br /><br />“Getting to spend time with their families may help them relax mentally, and check anti-social tendencies arising out of frustration and the psychological trauma of staying inside the jail premises for prolonged periods,” said an official.<br /></p>
<p>Perhaps inspired by the Valentine’s Day spirit, the Punjab government has announced residential suites in jails for inmates to enjoy conjugal bliss — if not for all times to come, at least for a week.<br /><br />The inspiration behind the state government’s Freudian thinking stems from “humanitarian grounds,” as Minister of Jails Hira Singh Gabria puts it. “This facility will help inmates who cannot get a leave from jail or those who are newly married and have to wait a long time to consummate their relationship,” he says.<br /><br />What Gabria perhaps did not take into account is that repressed prisoners might not be able to contain their hormone levels when they are given the week-long paradise. <br />Reservations<br /><br />Some officials here feared that once the genie is let out of the bottle there is no knowing how conjugal bliss might degenerate into savage violence.<br /><br />Nevertheless, the state government proposes to build 48 residential suites inside the jail premises at Kapurthala and Faridkot. Each suite will have a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and a lobby. Married inmates will be able to avail of the facility along with their spouse and children for a week.<br /><br />For the inmates to qualify for this virtual honeymoon in jail, they will have to show good conduct, says the minister.<br /><br />The suites will be ready in the next six months.<br /><br />Jail Department officials say social aloofness is leading to many inmates taking to drugs or violent behaviour in the confines of the jail.<br /><br />“Getting to spend time with their families may help them relax mentally, and check anti-social tendencies arising out of frustration and the psychological trauma of staying inside the jail premises for prolonged periods,” said an official.<br /></p>
