PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Dec 2: City-based human rights activist Jawaharlal Sharma shot off a letter to the Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari under RTI seeking information on the implementation of the ‘Support to Poor Prisoners Scheme’ in various districts of Jharkhand.
Overcrowded jails and human rights violations
Notably, numerous undertrial prisoners have been lodged in various jails across the state for years, out of which a large number are poor prisoners who are unable to plead their cases due to lack of money.
Due to this, more prisoners are being kept in the jail than its capacity, which is a violation of human rights.
Concerned over the situation human rights activist Jawaharlal Sharma, who is vocal on such issues, has asked the Chief Secretary under the Right to Information Act whether the ‘Support to Poor Prisoners Scheme’ has been implemented in all the districts of the state.
“If it is implemented then since when? And how much money has been paid so far. Also, how many people have got its benefits? Did poor prisoners started getting its benefits,” Sharma asked in his letter adding that if it is not implemented then why is it not implemented and when will it be implemented?
He also asked in the letter whether accounts have been opened in the banks of all the districts.
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Union Home Ministry’s notification attached
Along with his letter, Jawaharlal Sharma has also attached a printed copy of the important notification letter sent by the Home Ministry of the Government of India last year.
Sharma said in his letter to the Chief Secretary that this important notification was sent so that the poor undertrial prisoners could be freed from jail by paying the amount under the scheme prescribed by the government or can pay the lawyer’s fees for justice.
Jawaharlal Sharma also wrote in his letter that to his knowledge this scheme is not yet implemented in Jharkhand.
President’s concern and a call for justice
The human rights activist requested the Chief Secretary to reply to this letter before International Human Rights Day which falls on December 10.
Sharma pointed out that President Droupadi Murmu has also expressed concern over the issue of the increasing number of undertrial prisoners in various jails of the country.
Jawaharlal Sharma said that if this scheme is implemented in the state, then many poor people will be able to get justice and those in jails will be released. This in turn would reduce the number of prisoners lodged in jails.
