for most of you your idea of prisons come from movies who can forget that
come from movies who can forget that
come from movies who can forget that famous line by Amitabh Bachchan in the
famous line by Amitabh Bachchan in the
famous line by Amitabh Bachchan in the movie Kalia wherein he says hum Johar
movie Kalia wherein he says hum Johar
movie Kalia wherein he says hum Johar cutting out their line where he says
cutting out their line where he says
cutting out their line where he says shooter hoodie here though this line
shooter hoodie here though this line
shooter hoodie here though this line romanticizes prison scene in actuality
romanticizes prison scene in actuality
romanticizes prison scene in actuality prisons are dark dungeons everything
prisons are dark dungeons everything
prisons are dark dungeons everything about them is grim and gray particularly
about them is grim and gray particularly
about them is grim and gray particularly when it comes to prisoners who are poor
when it comes to prisoners who are poor
when it comes to prisoners who are poor prisons are supposed to be great
prisons are supposed to be great
prisons are supposed to be great levelers unfortunately they are not
levelers unfortunately they are not
levelers unfortunately they are not discrimination is writ large in prisons
discrimination is writ large in prisons
discrimination is writ large in prisons flouting rules laws coat orders if you
flouting rules laws coat orders if you
flouting rules laws coat orders if you have no money to bribe prisons will
have no money to bribe prisons will
have no money to bribe prisons will literally turn out to be hell for you
literally turn out to be hell for you
literally turn out to be hell for you on the other hand there is a quid pro
on the other hand there is a quid pro
on the other hand there is a quid pro quo arrangement between the prison
quo arrangement between the prison
quo arrangement between the prison officials and the wealthy prisoners so
officials and the wealthy prisoners so
officials and the wealthy prisoners so what are these privileges that are
what are these privileges that are
what are these privileges that are available to some flouting rules and
available to some flouting rules and
available to some flouting rules and laws firstly privileges in jails is
laws firstly privileges in jails is
laws firstly privileges in jails is mostly about space and cleanliness while
mostly about space and cleanliness while
mostly about space and cleanliness while an ordinary prisoner is dumped in a cell
an ordinary prisoner is dumped in a cell
an ordinary prisoner is dumped in a cell which is overcrowded so much so that
which is overcrowded so much so that
which is overcrowded so much so that even to sleep prisoners have to take
even to sleep prisoners have to take
even to sleep prisoners have to take turns
turns
turns not to mention the toilets that are very
not to mention the toilets that are very
not to mention the toilets that are very dirty and abode of infections on the
dirty and abode of infections on the
dirty and abode of infections on the other hand a wealthy prisoner can manage
other hand a wealthy prisoner can manage
other hand a wealthy prisoner can manage to get a single cell all for oneself
to get a single cell all for oneself
to get a single cell all for oneself when I was d IG prisons in Bengaluru I
when I was d IG prisons in Bengaluru I
when I was d IG prisons in Bengaluru I had reported on jail irregularities
had reported on jail irregularities
had reported on jail irregularities wherein I had mentioned how a
wherein I had mentioned how a
wherein I had mentioned how a politically powerful prisoner was given
politically powerful prisoner was given
politically powerful prisoner was given five cells with one cell being used as
five cells with one cell being used as
five cells with one cell being used as the yoga room another as sleeping room
the yoga room another as sleeping room
the yoga room another as sleeping room another to keep belongings and so on
another to keep belongings and so on
another to keep belongings and so on coupled with 150 feet length of corridor
coupled with 150 feet length of corridor
coupled with 150 feet length of corridor be used as
be used as
be used as private walking space where none could
private walking space where none could
private walking space where none could enter another area of privileges is
enter another area of privileges is
enter another area of privileges is about visitors you must have seen in the
about visitors you must have seen in the
about visitors you must have seen in the movies that there is a meshed window
movies that there is a meshed window
movies that there is a meshed window between the prisoner and the visitor
between the prisoner and the visitor
between the prisoner and the visitor often the prisoner has to struggle to
often the prisoner has to struggle to
often the prisoner has to struggle to get a glimpse of the family members
get a glimpse of the family members
get a glimpse of the family members across that window sometimes has to
across that window sometimes has to
across that window sometimes has to shout on top of his voice to be heard
shout on top of his voice to be heard
shout on top of his voice to be heard and even before he completes the
and even before he completes the
and even before he completes the conversation within two minutes he will
conversation within two minutes he will
conversation within two minutes he will be whisked away on the other hand a
be whisked away on the other hand a
be whisked away on the other hand a wealthy prisoner can manage to get a
wealthy prisoner can manage to get a
wealthy prisoner can manage to get a private room to meet the visitors with
private room to meet the visitors with
private room to meet the visitors with no restrictions whatsoever on the
no restrictions whatsoever on the
no restrictions whatsoever on the duration of visit or the number of
duration of visit or the number of
duration of visit or the number of visitors you might find it unbelievable
visitors you might find it unbelievable
visitors you might find it unbelievable but it is actually true
but it is actually true
but it is actually true that if one is resourceful one can get
that if one is resourceful one can get
that if one is resourceful one can get LED TV with all channels newspapers
LED TV with all channels newspapers
LED TV with all channels newspapers magazines air cooler induction stoves at
magazines air cooler induction stoves at
magazines air cooler induction stoves at times refrigerator to keep cold drink or
times refrigerator to keep cold drink or
times refrigerator to keep cold drink or energy drink can where one’s own branded
energy drink can where one’s own branded
energy drink can where one’s own branded clothes as against the jail uniform
clothes as against the jail uniform
clothes as against the jail uniform use of mobile phones is rampant and
use of mobile phones is rampant and
use of mobile phones is rampant and sometimes the system is misused to such
sometimes the system is misused to such
sometimes the system is misused to such an extent that prisoners go and sit in
an extent that prisoners go and sit in
an extent that prisoners go and sit in the jail officials room and use the
the jail officials room and use the
the jail officials room and use the official landline phones not very long
official landline phones not very long
official landline phones not very long ago interestingly a mining baron of
ago interestingly a mining baron of
ago interestingly a mining baron of south india was put behind bars by the
south india was put behind bars by the
south india was put behind bars by the orders of the highest court of this
orders of the highest court of this
orders of the highest court of this country and you will not believe he was
country and you will not believe he was
country and you will not believe he was about to get constructed for himself a
about to get constructed for himself a
about to get constructed for himself a tennis court inside the prison
tennis court inside the prison
tennis court inside the prison thankfully the saving grace was that he
thankfully the saving grace was that he
thankfully the saving grace was that he went out on bail another area of
went out on bail another area of
went out on bail another area of privileges is about food while food is
privileges is about food while food is
privileges is about food while food is served arbitrarily to poor prisoners
served arbitrarily to poor prisoners
served arbitrarily to poor prisoners sometimes less than required sometimes
sometimes less than required sometimes
sometimes less than required sometimes uncooked and so on
uncooked and so on
uncooked and so on a wealthy prisoner can manage to get
a wealthy prisoner can manage to get
a wealthy prisoner can manage to get healthy delicious food cooked according
healthy delicious food cooked according
healthy delicious food cooked according to one’s own tastes
to one’s own tastes
to one’s own tastes either you can get it cooked in jail or
either you can get it cooked in jail or
either you can get it cooked in jail or can get it from home or hotel every day
can get it from home or hotel every day
can get it from home or hotel every day hospital visits are another area on the
hospital visits are another area on the
hospital visits are another area on the pretext of showing to a specialized
pretext of showing to a specialized
pretext of showing to a specialized doctor prisoners often go and get
doctor prisoners often go and get
doctor prisoners often go and get admitted in high five air-conditioned
admitted in high five air-conditioned
admitted in high five air-conditioned hospitals where they can move freely
hospitals where they can move freely
hospitals where they can move freely meet anyone and everyone eat the desired
meet anyone and everyone eat the desired
meet anyone and everyone eat the desired food and so on the Supreme Court noted
food and so on the Supreme Court noted
food and so on the Supreme Court noted that an MLA member of Legislative
that an MLA member of Legislative
that an MLA member of Legislative Assembly from eastern India had spent
Assembly from eastern India had spent
Assembly from eastern India had spent out of his four years imprisonment term
out of his four years imprisonment term
out of his four years imprisonment term had spent about one and half years in a
had spent about one and half years in a
had spent about one and half years in a hospital outside the prison similarly a
hospital outside the prison similarly a
hospital outside the prison similarly a query under the Right to Information Act
query under the Right to Information Act
query under the Right to Information Act in Nitish katara murder case reveals
in Nitish katara murder case reveals
in Nitish katara murder case reveals that the accused
that the accused
that the accused within two years jail term had gone out
within two years jail term had gone out
within two years jail term had gone out sixty six times as an OPD patient to a
sixty six times as an OPD patient to a
sixty six times as an OPD patient to a hospital outside the prison if this is
hospital outside the prison if this is
hospital outside the prison if this is about the influential prisoners what
about the influential prisoners what
about the influential prisoners what about the underdogs the underdog
about the underdogs the underdog
about the underdogs the underdog prisoners are more at risk of catching
prisoners are more at risk of catching
prisoners are more at risk of catching infections because they are dumped in
infections because they are dumped in
infections because they are dumped in overcrowded unhygenic cells hardly any
overcrowded unhygenic cells hardly any
overcrowded unhygenic cells hardly any medical tests or diagnosis takes place
medical tests or diagnosis takes place
medical tests or diagnosis takes place to tackle this problem during my stint I
to tackle this problem during my stint I
to tackle this problem during my stint I had initiated a small step whereby every
had initiated a small step whereby every
had initiated a small step whereby every prisoner on his day one of entry into
prisoner on his day one of entry into
prisoner on his day one of entry into the prison would be required to undergo
the prison would be required to undergo
the prison would be required to undergo series of medical tests including that
series of medical tests including that
series of medical tests including that of HIV and tuberculosis this was done
of HIV and tuberculosis this was done
of HIV and tuberculosis this was done with two objectives one early diagnosis
with two objectives one early diagnosis
with two objectives one early diagnosis leads to early treatment second isolate
leads to early treatment second isolate
leads to early treatment second isolate individuals with tuberculosis to check
individuals with tuberculosis to check
individuals with tuberculosis to check its spread among others it’s a very
its spread among others it’s a very
its spread among others it’s a very common talk among prisoners about the
common talk among prisoners about the
common talk among prisoners about the bribe rate for parole and every other
bribe rate for parole and every other
bribe rate for parole and every other facility no moneyed prisoners will not
facility no moneyed prisoners will not
facility no moneyed prisoners will not even get service of lawyers during my
even get service of lawyers during my
even get service of lawyers during my stint I had identified about eight of
stint I had identified about eight of
stint I had identified about eight of them who were from extremely poor
them who were from extremely poor
them who were from extremely poor socioeconomic status they were non
socioeconomic status they were non
socioeconomic status they were non locals so did not know local language
locals so did not know local language
locals so did not know local language had no local acquaintance and for this
had no local acquaintance and for this
had no local acquaintance and for this same reason they also did not have the
same reason they also did not have the
same reason they also did not have the service of lawyers they were forgotten
service of lawyers they were forgotten
service of lawyers they were forgotten either after chargesheet or after arrest
either after chargesheet or after arrest
either after chargesheet or after arrest so I put them through free legal aid
so I put them through free legal aid
so I put them through free legal aid available with the district legal
available with the district legal
available with the district legal services authority another very
services authority another very
services authority another very important area of differentiation is the
important area of differentiation is the
important area of differentiation is the behavior of the prison officials when a
behavior of the prison officials when a
behavior of the prison officials when a very powerful politician or a very rich
very powerful politician or a very rich
very powerful politician or a very rich businessman lands in prison prison
businessman lands in prison prison
businessman lands in prison prison officials greet them with salutes and
officials greet them with salutes and
officials greet them with salutes and smiles whereas for an ordinary prisoner
smiles whereas for an ordinary prisoner
smiles whereas for an ordinary prisoner the day begins and ends with abuses
the day begins and ends with abuses
the day begins and ends with abuses ill-treatment is rampant disgruntled
ill-treatment is rampant disgruntled
ill-treatment is rampant disgruntled prison staff take out their frustration
prison staff take out their frustration
prison staff take out their frustration on hapless powerless prisoners as a
on hapless powerless prisoners as a
on hapless powerless prisoners as a prisoner confided at every step it is
prisoner confided at every step it is
prisoner confided at every step it is either the money or the body that is up
either the money or the body that is up
either the money or the body that is up for grabs
for grabs
for grabs so in this process prisoners get
so in this process prisoners get
so in this process prisoners get dehumanized now some of you may ask me
dehumanized now some of you may ask me
dehumanized now some of you may ask me what is the big deal if some privileges
what is the big deal if some privileges
what is the big deal if some privileges are given to certain prisoners well to
are given to certain prisoners well to
are given to certain prisoners well to them I would like to say it is of utmost
them I would like to say it is of utmost
them I would like to say it is of utmost concern and needs to be checked simply
concern and needs to be checked simply
concern and needs to be checked simply because if you spare a moment of thought
because if you spare a moment of thought
because if you spare a moment of thought as to what propels people to commit
as to what propels people to commit
as to what propels people to commit crime you will realize that the
crime you will realize that the
crime you will realize that the socio-economic theory says conditions of
socio-economic theory says conditions of
socio-economic theory says conditions of inequality discrimination deprivation
inequality discrimination deprivation
inequality discrimination deprivation prejudice against the poor ill treatment
prejudice against the poor ill treatment
prejudice against the poor ill treatment of the poor are all the reasons that
of the poor are all the reasons that
of the poor are all the reasons that compel people to commit crime now if the
compel people to commit crime now if the
compel people to commit crime now if the same conditions of inequality
same conditions of inequality
same conditions of inequality discrimination deprivation are all
discrimination deprivation are all
discrimination deprivation are all replicated inside the four walls of the
replicated inside the four walls of the
replicated inside the four walls of the prison what motivation will a poor
prison what motivation will a poor
prison what motivation will a poor prisoner have to reform himself his idea
prisoner have to reform himself his idea
prisoner have to reform himself his idea or belief will get reinforced that
or belief will get reinforced that
or belief will get reinforced that committing crimes breaking laws taking
committing crimes breaking laws taking
committing crimes breaking laws taking shortcuts are the only methods for a
shortcuts are the only methods for a
shortcuts are the only methods for a comfortable living unfair prison system
comfortable living unfair prison system
comfortable living unfair prison system is more dangerous than anything else
is more dangerous than anything else
is more dangerous than anything else simply because
simply because
simply because prisoners will go in and come out as
prisoners will go in and come out as
prisoners will go in and come out as bigger criminals it is therefore a
bigger criminals it is therefore a
bigger criminals it is therefore a foremost necessity that we create
foremost necessity that we create
foremost necessity that we create conditions of equality and
conditions of equality and
conditions of equality and non-discrimination in prisons but this
non-discrimination in prisons but this
non-discrimination in prisons but this is not easy to achieve prisons are the
is not easy to achieve prisons are the
is not easy to achieve prisons are the most inert to change among all other
most inert to change among all other
most inert to change among all other governmental institutions there is a
governmental institutions there is a
governmental institutions there is a reason for this every other governmental
reason for this every other governmental
reason for this every other governmental institution including police stations
institution including police stations
institution including police stations there are complained of high handedness
there are complained of high handedness
there are complained of high handedness and torture are open to general public
and torture are open to general public
and torture are open to general public to the media to the RT activist social
to the media to the RT activist social
to the media to the RT activist social activists and so on anyone can enter
activists and so on anyone can enter
activists and so on anyone can enter anytime but what about prisons none can
anytime but what about prisons none can
anytime but what about prisons none can enter so it is in this opaque system the
enter so it is in this opaque system the
enter so it is in this opaque system the whims and fancies of the prison
whims and fancies of the prison
whims and fancies of the prison officials become the law prisoners are
officials become the law prisoners are
officials become the law prisoners are completely at their mercy prison
completely at their mercy prison
completely at their mercy prison officers can turn demonic and unleash
officers can turn demonic and unleash
officers can turn demonic and unleash terror in the dark caves called prisons
terror in the dark caves called prisons
terror in the dark caves called prisons it is therefore high time we sensitized
it is therefore high time we sensitized
it is therefore high time we sensitized sensitize the prison staff curb
sensitize the prison staff curb
sensitize the prison staff curb corruption create conditions of fair
corruption create conditions of fair
corruption create conditions of fair play and justice and equality in the
play and justice and equality in the
play and justice and equality in the prisons for this technology can come in
prisons for this technology can come in
prisons for this technology can come in as a savior CCTV cameras installed in
as a savior CCTV cameras installed in
as a savior CCTV cameras installed in every cell can be monitored by the
every cell can be monitored by the
every cell can be monitored by the courts or the prison headquarters and
courts or the prison headquarters and
courts or the prison headquarters and can put an end to much of the woes of
can put an end to much of the woes of
can put an end to much of the woes of prisoners well to conclude I will only
prisoners well to conclude I will only
prisoners well to conclude I will only say when a high-profile criminal is put
say when a high-profile criminal is put
say when a high-profile criminal is put behind bars after spending millions of
behind bars after spending millions of
behind bars after spending millions of taxpayers money and decades time society
taxpayers money and decades time society
taxpayers money and decades time society heaves a sigh of relief but ironically
heaves a sigh of relief but ironically
heaves a sigh of relief but ironically for that high-profile offender it is
for that high-profile offender it is
for that high-profile offender it is just the beginning of a second honeymoon
just the beginning of a second honeymoon
just the beginning of a second honeymoon it is high time our prisons became
it is high time our prisons became
it is high time our prisons became correctional institutions with emphasis
correctional institutions with emphasis
correctional institutions with emphasis on reform and rehab
on reform and rehab
on reform and rehab mutation else prisons will remain
mutation else prisons will remain
mutation else prisons will remain breeding grounds of more perilous
breeding grounds of more perilous
breeding grounds of more perilous criminals who will pose humongous
criminals who will pose humongous
criminals who will pose humongous problems to the society thank you
problems to the society thank you
problems to the society thank you [Applause]
”
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