Sri B.D.Sharma, IG of Correctional Services welcomed all the delegates and representatives of different NGO / Social Organizations for responding to the invitation for the Third Annual State Level Dialogue. He thanked the NGOs and Social Organizations for their valuable contribution towards a number of prison reforms introduced in the State and acknowledged that but for their support it would not have been possible for the West Bengal Correctional Services to undertake a number of works both inside the correctional homes as well as for the benefit of the prisoners’ family members living in the community. Enumerating some of the major achievements made by West Bengal Correctional Services with the help of civil society during last one year, he hoped that the West Bengal Correctional Services will continue to receive active support from the NGOs in future as well. Sri B.D.Sharma expressed his resolve to make the State Level Dialogue an annual feature.

Swami Divyananda, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Malda laid stress on the need for organizing motivational workshop for the Officers and Guarding Staff too. He suggested a change / flexibility in the food distribution timings, specially the evening meals as there is a long gap between the last meal of a day and the first meal of the next day, leading to various health disorders among the inmates. He also emphasized that little flexibility in food timings will ensure uninterrupted and attentive participation of the inmates in the various courses and classes as they would not be worried about missing their food even if the classes run for a longer duration of time.

Sri Rafiuddin Ahmmed, Dy. Secretary, Jails Department welcomed the idea of holding such interactive sessions with the NGO/Social Organizations to seek their views for further mutual co-operation in different spheres of activity. He emphasized the change in the role in the correctional services and the need for suitable training of the personnel in conformity with the new role. He also underlined that there should be an element of humanism in the management of our correctional homes which we are trying to bring in gradually.

Sri Tushar Kanjilal, Tagore Society for Rural Development, Kolkata welcoming the steps being taken by the Government of West Bengal to improve the conditions in the jails, however, cautioned the audience that these changes being attempted by West Bengal Correctional Services are peripheral in nature. He stressed the need for many more fundamental changes in the present criminal justice system to improve the condition of prisoners in our correctional homes and treat them more humanely. These changes however, were beyond the powers of correctional authorities and the Legislature and Judiciary had a much bigger role in this respect. The scope of correctional activities by the correctional services is very limited as until a person is convicted, the correctional services authorities do not get scope to extend correctional measures to the concerned person. He further suggested that there is a requirement for mapping of areas of activities of NGOs for rendering services in a multi-directional manner to ensure that all the inmates get some opportunity of exposure to the outer world.

Sister B.K.Kanan, Prajapita Brahmakumaris Iswariya Viswa Vidyalaya, Kolkata stressed the need for holding classes on meditation for all the inmates at every correctional home to de-stress their mental agony.

Dr. Upneet Lalli, Dy. Director, Institute of Correctional Administration, Chandigarh expressed her happiness for the opportunity to attend this Third Annual State Level Dialogue with NGOs & Social Organizations as this is a unique practice in the entire country. She also expressed her satisfaction over the way in which correctional activities are being carried out in West Bengal in partnership with different NGOs and Social Organizations. However, she showed her concern regarding very little use of the institutions of parole and premature release for long term convicts of West Bengal in comparison to other States. She also expressed her dismay at the delay which takes place before premature release of the convicts even after completion of mandatory 14 years’ imprisonment in the State of West Bengal. She further emphasized that the convicts of the State are needed to be provided with proper rehabilitation services after their release from correctional homes and laid stress on re-education, re-socialization and re-integration.

Sri Biswanath Chowdhury, Hon’ble MIC Jails Department made an announcement about establishment of Prisoners’ Welfare Fund in the State and hoped that the creation of the Fund will help the prisoners and their family members in a number of ways particularly in respect of education of their children and marriage of girl children. He also hoped that the Prisoners’ Welfare Fund will give a boost to cultural activities inside correctional homes. Emphasizing the rehabilitation of the prisoners on release, the Hon’ble MIC, Jails Department laid stress on removal of post-release stigma and called upon the participant NGOs to employ a few convicts in their organizations on release. The Hon’ble MIC, Jails also invited doctors to volunteer for the medical camps for the benefits of inmates of correctional homes. Such medical camps can be organized by the NGOs working in different correctional homes.

Fr. N.T.Scaria, Don Bosco Prison Ministry, Berhampore stressed on having minimum acceptability norms for allowing NGOs and Social Organizations in correctional activities and emphasized the importance of monitoring and periodic screening of such organizations particularly on the basis of their performance. He advised that it is very important to segregate under trials from convicts as the approach in dealing with them has to be different. He also proposed that more open air correctional homes may be set up and some of them can be run by reputed NGOs. He suggested that canteen / co-operative stores may be established in the correctional homes with the support of NGOs which may be run by the inmates themselves.

Mrs. Meera Sengupta, Flight to Harmony Foundation, Kolkata proposed that inmates trained in art & sculpture under the guidance of Sri Chitta Dey may be employed by their organization after their release in other projects run by their organization. Similarly, such well trained inmates can also be given opportunities of such innovative employment in different projects by other NGOs by establishment of Open Jails near the sites of such projects.

Sri Subrato Roy, Swajan, Kolkata suggested that there is requirement of conducting survey on post-release status/condition of inmates released from Kolkata correctional homes. He also told that the family members of inmates suffer from various ailments and there is a need for holding special medical camps for the family members of inmates of correctional homes.

Smt. Veena Lakhumalani, Dy. Director, CINI ASHA, Kolkata appealed to the Hon’ble MIC to approach Social Welfare Organizations to provide prisoners, on their release, with jobs particularly when they were convicted for minor offences or and in cases they had a good record during incarceration. She laid stress on developing of parenting skills in women inmates during their terms in prison by explaining to them the harm caused / effect of their imprisonment on their own children. Many women after their release from jails fail to find their children since many of them get sold / trafficked during the absence of their mothers or due to becoming drug addicted. She proposed for giving shelter to children whose parents, specially mothers are in jails in CINI ASHA’s own shelter homes where such children can get proper education too. She also offered to provide recreational scope in the facilities of CINI ASHA to children of prisoners accompanying their mothers to Jails.

Sri Sujit Kr. Das, CAMELIA, Berhampore said that his Organization is working with inmates of Berhampore Central Correctional Home at present to train them in performance of mime and expressed his interest in working in other correctional homes as well.

Sri P.M.John, Antara, Kolkata informed the gathering that they are a State-of-the-art organization in the field of rehabilitation of mentally challenged persons and are eager to work for inmates of correctional homes suffering from mental ill health. He further suggested that there is a need for monitoring of overlapping in the activities of different NGOs. He further opined there is a need of scientific study of mental problems afflicting the inmates. He also stressed on training of officers and staff in dealing with the inmates suffering from mental health problems and proposed to help in such training.

Smt. Geeta Gupta, Nandana, Kolkata invited the correctional home administration to be more flexible in timings of distribution of meals and tea amongst women inmates of Alipore Women’s Correctional Home to ensure uninterrupted conduction of programmes as the women inmates leave during classes for their food. She also informed that many women inmates are suffering from eye problems and are hence there is a need for special eye-care programme for them.

Sri Mrinal Biswas, OFFER, Kolkata informed the audience that they are working successfully amongst the children of inmates of different correctional homes. He also stressed on the need of engagement of Local Self Government agencies particularly Block Social Welfare Officers in the work of educational programme for the prisoners’ children back home living in the community being conducted by Prisons Directorate with the help of NGO partners.

Smt. Arati Ghosh (Sengupta), Centre for Care of Tortured Victims, Kolkata informed the gathering that they are interested in working with inmates of Alipore Women’s Correctional Home and they are in need of identity cards which may kindly be issued at an early date. She proposed that a team from Indian Medical Association may provide medical services to the inmates if allowed by Prison authorities.

Sri S.K.Ghosh, Ramkrishna Vivekananda Mission, Barrackpore stated that they can provide and arrange residential education for the children of inmates. Only a nominal charge for electricity and few other things will have to be paid for such services and this also may be arranged if they are unable to pay even such nominal amounts. He further proposed that they can also provide vocational training to the inmates of correctional homes.

Sri Ajay Gupta, Patanjali Yog Samity, Kolkata gave importance to making yoga training compulsory for the staff of correctional homes. He also offered to provide employment to convicts on release in his own business enterprise.

Mr. Anthony Das, Trinita Society for Social Health & Research, Coochbehar appreciated the effort of organizing such State Level Dialogues. He expressed his eagerness to work in Coochbehar District Correctional Home for imparting education to the children lodged in correctional home with their mothers.

Sri Pradip Bhattacharya, Berhampore Repertory Theatre, Berhampore shared his experiences of working with the inmates of Berhampore Central Correctional Home during the workshop for the dance drama ‘Taser Desh’ of Rabindra Nath Tagore. He expressed his gratitude to Sri B.D.Sharma, IG of Correctional Services for allowing female inmates to work along with male inmates by making necessary changes in the existing Rules. ‘Taser Desh’ was performed by inmates of Berhampore Central Correctional Home in different towns of West Bengal including Kolkata and at New Delhi for members of public. He also expressed desire to perform the same at Shantiniketan and expressed his happiness about establishment of Prisoners’ Welfare Fund in the State.

Sri Debashis Mukherjee, Superintendent, Berhampore Central Correctional Home suggested that there is a need for involvement of guarding staff and other staff in the correctional activities.

Smt. Reba Mandi, Superintendent, Purulia Women’s Correctional Home invited NGOs to work in her correctional home and wanted that a manufacturing unit suitable for women inmates may be set up in Purulia Women’s Correctional Home with the help of NGOs.

Sri Sarbendra Chakraborty, Welfare Officer, Alipore Central Correctional Home told that Welfare Officers are alone in correctional homes to carry out welfare / correctional activities and it is very difficult for them to cope up with the situation. New areas of work are being added to the existing workload which involves a lot of clerical work. So, there is a need for staff in Welfare Section to help the Welfare Officers. He also appealed to NGOs to be very much patient in carrying out their activities in correctional homes.

Sri Dibyendu Sarkar, OSD & Ex-officio Dy. Secretary, Jails Department addressed the gathering towards the end and enumerated the issues, one by one, which came up during the deliberations through the day-long State Level Dialogue. He also assured the participants about follow-up action on the valuable suggestions made by them and sought their active co-operation in making the living conditions in our correctional homes better for the inmates.

The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to all by Sri Panchanan Biswas, Addl IG (North) of Correctional Services and West Bengal.