Daltonganj Jail Visit: Inmate’s little daughter wins hearts with flawless poem recital
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Daltonganj, September 30: A routine visit by the Board of Visitors to the Central Jail in Daltonganj turned…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, September 30: A routine visit by the Board of Visitors to the Central Jail in Daltonganj turned into a memorable moment when a girl child of a female inmate impressed Acting Principal District and Sessions Judge R K Mishra with a confident recital of a poem.
The girl, aged under six years, was among around half a dozen children of women prisoners attending classes in the female prison ward when the Board of Visitors, led by Mishra, interacted with them during its visit on Wednesday.
According to Saurav Kumar Gautam, secretary of the Palamu District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Mishra asked the children about what they were learning. One of the girls then came forward and recited a poem flawlessly and confidently, drawing appreciation from the members of the visiting board. Another child reportedly demonstrated her learning by reciting the English alphabet.
NDPS inmates seek free legal aid
The visit also provided an opportunity for inmates to raise their legal concerns. SDPO Sadar Rajesh Yadav, who was part of the Board of Visitors, said some inmates lodged in the jail under the NDPS Act approached him seeking free legal assistance.
The inmates told the officer that financial constraints prevented them from hiring lawyers to represent them.
Yadav immediately approached S K Pandey, a senior lawyer empanelled as a legal-aid defence counsel, and requested him to facilitate free legal representation for the inmates.
Board assesses jail facilities
Gautam clarified that the visit was neither an inspection nor a raid but a routine visit by the Board of Visitors, which included representatives of the district administration and police.
He said the jail environment appeared proactive and inmate-friendly, with hygiene and cleanliness maintained across the premises. The jail hospital was also found to have appropriate medicines, he added.
According to figures cited by SDPO Yadav from the jail authorities, the Central Jail currently houses 843 male inmates and 53 female inmates.
The visit highlighted both the educational activities being undertaken for children of women prisoners and the importance of ensuring access to legal aid for inmates who are unable to afford legal representation.
