WINDS OF CHANGE: A view of the newly built Puzhal prison near Chennai. — Photo: M.Vedhan

CHENNAI: The landscaped frontage of the huge complex resembles that of a luxury hotel. Only, this is no hotel or office complex. This is the Puzhal Prison Complex, a bold attempt by the Tamil Nadu Government to redefine the very concept of jail, which is ready to host the `guests'.

Bold, because every idea conceived for an ideal prison, but remained on paper, has been translated into reality in the Rs.75-crore project.

Quarantine

It has a quarantine to segregate new entrants till medical examination is completed; cells and dormitories with windows; lavatories with doors; meditation hall; library; amphitheatre; auditorium; jail court with video-conferencing facility; mechanised kitchens; high-security blocks with exclusive kitchen and hospital; gym; canteen; public music system; rehabilitation block and separate gallows for men and women prisoners.

Three complexes

Housed on 273 acres, the campus comprises three complexes — one each for remand prisoners, convicts and women. For the first time, a separate enclosure has been made for civil debtor convicts.

Civil convicts are those found guilty in cases such as failure to comply with court orders. They are exempted from wearing convict uniform and prison work.

Outside the main compound wall around 350 residential units are ready for the jail staff.

With security gadgets functioning and electrification and whitewashing completed, authorities in-charge are giving the finishing touches. The prison administration is already paying about Rs. 80,000 as monthly electricity charges.

Inspection shortly

I. Periasami, Minister for Revenue and Law, told The Hindu on Saturday that as soon as a completion certificate was received from the department, he would conduct an inspection. The inauguration date would be announced shortly thereafter.

Together, the three jails can accommodate a minimum of 5,000 inmates. Puzhal was supposed to be an open prison when the idea was mooted in 1974. However, on January 26, 2000, it was reorganised as a conventional model Central Prison with about 200 inmates. In October 2003, the present modernisation works began.

Prison reform activists feel this is an opportunity to take steps such as total segregation of first-time offenders during their entire incarceration.

"First time offenders should not be allowed to mingle with habitual offenders. Parents could be allowed to meet them more frequently and access to psychiatrists for counselling is a must," says a criminologist.

Once the Puzhal complex becomes operational, the Chennai Central Prison would be closed down. All its inmates would be sent to the remand prisoner complex at Puzhal.

Men convicted for crimes are now sent to Vellore, Cuddalore or Salem. Women offenders, both convicts and remand prisoners from Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts, are sent to Vellore.

Every time their cases come up for hearing, they travel about 350 km.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail